Posted by Pfinstegg on November 24, 2002, at 23:14:11
In reply to CRH and atypical depression, posted by jrbecker on November 24, 2002, at 18:39:50
My understanding of the cortisol differences in atypical vs. melancholic depression is the same as yours. I think that there are differences in acute vs chronic PTSD also, with the acute form showing very low levels of cortisol response while the chronic type is similiar to melancholic depression.
I'm assuming that once we get medications which can maintain CRH output at a normal level, despite whatever stress might be occurring, that this will benefit atypical depression as well, as they will probably be able to prevent the abnormally large "spike" in CRH-ACTH-cortisol production. If this is prevented, there won't be that low-cortisol, stress-hormone depleted stage which you see in atypical depression.
I don't know very much about the research going on, but the little I have learned makes me so encouraged about future drug treatment for depression. We just have to hang on and wait!
Pfinstegg
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:129105
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021122/msgs/129150.html