Cortisol and Major Depressive Disorder-Translating Findings From Humans to Animal Models and Back.

ABSTRACT: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a global problem for which current pharmacotherapies are not completely effective. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction has long been associated with MDD; however, the value of assessing cortisol as a biological benchmark of the pathophysiology or treatment of MDD is still debated. In this review, we critically evaluate the relationship between HPA axis dysfunction and cortisol level in relation to MDD subtype, stress, gender and treatment regime, as well as in rodent models. We find that an elevated cortisol response to stress is associated with acute and severe, but not mild or atypical, forms of MDD. Furthermore, the increased incidence of MDD in females is associated with greater cortisol response variability rather than higher baseli

SUBMITTER: Nandam LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6987444 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature