Endocrinological Mechanisms of Depressive Disorders and Ill Health

Abstract

Stress is common, but reactions to stress vary greatly from person to person. Acute stresses are common and are a part of daily life. Mild, short-term acute stresses are adaptive and are also part of day-to-day life. Whereas, intense (severe, pathogenic) acute stresses that are associated with life-threatening situations, real or perceived, could lead to persistent behavioral and psychological abnormalities. Stress-induced symptomatology can be mistaken for other diseases.If the intensity of the stressor exceeds adaptive capabilities of the individual, such stresses, can also result in stress-related disorders including anxiety and depression, as well as severe traumatic stress leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unmanaged stress causes physical and mental strain, poor performance and lack of productivity,and can lead to harmful health outcomes, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and myocardial infarction.Approximately half of people with PTSD also suffer from major depressive disorder. Overt mental strain also can lead to depression, inability to perform, difficulties in interpersonal relationships and PTSD. Accumulating evidence supports hormone-dependent mechanisms in many of these stress-related disorders. While the latter seems to be a general phenomenon including depression (which probably is the largest group of psychological disorders), this editorial focuses on PTSD as an example to illustrate the underlying endocrine abnormalities associated with severe stress.