Hair-based biomarkers in women with major depressive disorder: Glucocorticoids, endocannabinoids, N-acylethanolamines, and testosterone.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stress-related alterations in the regulation of several endocrine systems, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and -gonadal (HPG) axes and the endocannabinoid system are proposed to be involved in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Therefore, this study examines whether altered concentrations of glucocorticoids, testosterone, endocannabinoids, and related N-acylethanolamines accumulated in hair are present in MDD.

Methods

Female participants (range: 19-59, Mdn = 30.5 years) were recruited, including n = 21 with a current MDD episode and n = 27 nondepressed controls without any current mental disorder. Weight-standardized samples of 3 cm hair segments were analyzed which equals to three months of retrospectiv

SUBMITTER: Behnke A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9216461 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature