Effect of antidepressant drugs on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and glucocorticoid receptor function

Abstract

Hyperactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the main biochemical change, besides disturbed monoaminergic neurotransmission, observed in the patients suffering from a major depression. High incidence of depression in Cushing's syndrome as well as antidepressant effects of adrenocortical enzyme inhibitors in major depression support hypothesis that hyperactivity of HPA axis may be involved in pathogenesis of depression.