Posted by jrbecker on November 24, 2002, at 18:39:50
Would CRH agonists (in conjunciton with an AD)work for atypical depressives just as melancholic types might one day benefit from CRH antagonists?
Supposedly the difference between atypical depressives and melancholics is that in atypical depressives, the overproduction of cortisol has finally desensitized the cortisol receptors, making them less responsive. Simulataneously, the high levels of cortisol has a negative feedback effect on the production of Corticotropin-releasing hormone, creating a rapid rise and fall effect in stressful situations. In melancholics, chronic over-stimulation of cortisol has not fully desensitized the cortisol receptors, so stress remains high at all times.
Hopefully CRH agonists are being studied for atypical depression just as CRH antagonists currently are for melancholic types.
poster:jrbecker
thread:129105
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021122/msgs/129105.html