Hypercortisolemia and depression
Abstract
Hypercortisolemia and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are often found in severe forms of depression. The authors review the history of techniques used to assess the functions of the HPA axis, evidence for hypercortisolemia as a state rather than trait component of depression, and treatment implications. HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; DST = dexamethasone suppression test; ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; NS = nonsuppression; CRF = corticotropin-releasing factor.
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Hypercortisolemia has been consistently found in depressed adults.
“Hypercortisolemia has been consistently found in depressed adults (Christensen & Kessing, 2001; Gillespie & Nemeroff, 2005), and has been examined as a potential predictor of various outcomes (e.g., treatment response; Ribeiro et al., 1993) as well as one cause of the brain structural anomalies observed in depressed patients (Videbech & Ravnkilde, 2004).”
From Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation in depressed children and adolescents: A meta-analysis (2009) · cites this paper as Gillespie & Nemeroff, 2005
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“17 Consequently, depression appeared less probable in our patient.”
- Authors
- Gillespie, C. F., & Nemeroff, C. B.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nemeroff, Charles B.
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 67
- Pages
- S26-S28
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1972193475
- Cited by
- 361
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 1.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (7r29mh052899-05)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH042088, MH 52899, MH42088)
- National Center for Research Resources (M0I-RR00039)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- hypercortisolism, depression, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, dexamethasone suppression test, ACTH, corticotropin-releasing factor, HPA axis dysregulation, depression treatment
- MeSH terms
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Cushing Syndrome, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Dexamethasone, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Pituitary-Adrenal System
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