Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and bipolar disorder.

Daban C, Vieta E, Mackin P, Young AH

Bipolar Disorders Program, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

There is robust evidence demonstrating abnormalities of the HPA axis in bipolar disorder. Hypercortisolism may be central to the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms and cognitive deficits, which may in turn result from neurocytotoxic effects of raised cortisol levels. Manic episodes may be preceded by increased ACTH and cortisol levels, leading to cognitive problems and functional impairments. Identification and effective treatment of mood and cognitive symptoms of mood disorders are clinical goals, but currently available treatments may fall short of this ideal. Manipulation of the HPA axis has been shown to have therapeutic effects in preclinical and clinical studies, and recent data suggest that direct antagonism of GRs maybe a future therapeutic strategy in the treatment of mood disorders.

Published 13 April 2005 in Psychiatr Clin North Am, 28(2): 469-80.
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