Mirtazapine use may increase the risk of hypothyroxinemia in patients affected by major depressive disorder

Running title: Mirtazapine and hypothyroxinemia

Ying Zhao^{a,b,c #}, Na Wang^{b,c #}, Shi Wu Wen^d,e,f, Mingcan Li ^b,c, Yuan Yuan ^b,c, Ravi Retnakaran ^g,h, Ruiling Zhang^a*, Desheng Zhai^i*

^# Ying Zhao and Na Wang should be considered joint first author.

* Correspondence to: R. Zhang, Xinxiang Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang 453002, China. zhangruilingxx@163.com

* Correspondence to: D. Zhai, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China. zds@xxmu.edu.cn