Posted by Richard on February 8, 2000, at 14:31:39
In reply to Re: cortisol and depression-STUDIES (4 jd & Scott), posted by Cam W. on February 4, 2000, at 7:34:20
> > > I don't know how it causes depression (or whether it does or not) but I have read that people who are depressed have increased levels of cortisol in their systems, which can cause all kinds of damage, or at least supress repair and building. There was an earlier thread, way back a few months, on how cortisol causes the hippocampus to atrophy, so that over many years of untreated depression, the hippocampus functions less well, which leads to further bouts of depression, because the hippocampus helps us to deal with what the more emotional parts of our brains are throwing at us.
> >
> > Lucia - The malfunctioning of the HPA axis (in which too much cortisol can lead to biofeedback problems that slow the body's recovery from stress) may be due to an overabundance of cortisol, but some researchers think it may have more to do with a decrease in glucocorticoid receptors or a malfunction of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). Too much chronic stress can breakdown the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis; the body' response to stress) axis probably by originally dumping too much cortisol into the system, leading to a desensitzation and/or a downregulation of the the glucocorticoid receptors and may cause or be caused by the body producing too much CRH. This overactive HPA axis plays havoc on many of the brain's systems causing the symptoms we call depression. This is not the whole story, but I hope it helps. Antidepressants can restore the body's HPA axis to "normal" functioning. -Cam W.
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> Hi all - Further to my last piece of babbling, for those of you who are interested in cortisol and depression, I have found 2 articles that may be of use to you "info-junkies", like myself (you know who you are). The first is a fairly easy read while the second is a little more technical (definitely not bathroom reading). If you have any articles you would like to share, it would be greatly appreciated.
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> Bardon N, Regulation of corticosteroid gene receptor expression in depression and antidepressant action, J Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 1999; 24(1):25-38.
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> Holsboer F, The rationale for corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor (CRH-R) antagonists to treat depression and anxiety, J Psychiatric Research (1999); 33: 181-214. (pure, angonizing, glorious hell to read - a background in neuroanatomy is helpful)
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> Sincerely - Cam W.A recent report indicates that mirtzapine (Remeron) substatilly lowers cortisol. JClin.Psychopharm 2/00
poster:Richard
thread:20469
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000128/msgs/20782.html