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6.3 - Adrenal Steroids

from 6 - Modulators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2023

By
Ian M. Goodyer  and
Joe Herbert
Edited by
Mary-Ellen Lynall ,
Peter B. Jones  and
Stephen M. Stahl
Mary-Ellen Lynall
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Peter B. Jones
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Stephen M. Stahl
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
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Summary

This chapter focuses on the observations that variations in adrenal steroid levels, particularly cortisol, contribute to psychopathology and major depression in particular. The associations are complex due to clinical heterogeneity together with physiological and genetic variations, influencing corticoid production, function and activation by environmental adversities. There is evidence that genetic differences in adrenal function, the impact of chronic early adversity, excess corticoid production or exogenous corticoids each contribute to the risk of depression, delay in clinical recovery and relapse. Further, psychiatric illnesses, mainly but not exclusively depression, may induce changes in corticoid activity. Elevated corticoids can affect psychological function, in particular reduced memory acuity for recall of and emotional responses to life experiences.

Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Textbook of Neuroscience for Psychiatrists , pp. 307 - 315
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

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