Endocrine aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder and implications for diagnosis and treatment

Nikolaos P Daskalakis; Amy Lehrner; Rachel Yehuda

doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2013.05.004

Endocrine aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder and implications for diagnosis and treatment

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2013 Sep;42(3):503-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.05.004.

Authors

Nikolaos P Daskalakis¹, Amy Lehrner, Rachel Yehuda

Affiliation

¹ Traumatic Stress Studies Division, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 24011883
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.05.004

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious, multisystem disorder with multiple medical comorbidities. This article reviews the current literature on the endocrine aspects of PTSD, specifically hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis alterations indicative of low cortisol and increased glucocorticoid sensitivity, and the proposed mechanisms whereby these alterations increase risk or reflect pathophysiology. Discussion includes novel treatment innovations and directions for future research.

Keywords: Cortisol; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Stress; Sympathetic.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Circadian Rhythm / physiology
Endocrine System / physiopathology*
Glucocorticoids / physiology
Humans
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology*
Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / drug therapy
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology*

Substances

Glucocorticoids