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Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders pp 245–260Cite as

Endocrine Aspects of PTSD: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Beyond

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Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe, debilitating mental disorder with multiple symptoms that span biological systems and present with medical comorbidities. This contemporary literature review will focus on the attenuation of cortisol response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, along with hormonal alterations that increase risk or reflect pathophysiology of PTSD.

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Abbreviations

11β-HSD-2:

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Allo:

Allopregnanolone

AVP:

Arginine vasopressin

BDNF:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

CA:

Catecholamine

CRH:

Corticotropin-releasing hormone

DHEA:

Dehydroepiandrosterone

DHEA-S:

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

FKBP5:

FK506-binding protein 5

GABA:

γ-Aminobutyric acid

GC:

Glucocorticoid

GR:

Glucocorticoid receptor

Hcort:

Hydrocortisone

HPA axis:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

HSP90:

Heat shock protein 90

MDD:

Major depressive disorder

MRs:

Mineralocorticoid receptors

NE:

Norepinephrine

NPY:

Neuropeptide Y

NPY-Y1:

Neuropeptide Y receptor type 1

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

PSS:

Predator-scent stress

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

PVN:

Paraventricular nucleus

SNS:

Sympathetic nervous system

SSRIs:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

TkrB:

Tropomyosin receptor kinase B

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Traumatic Stress Studies Division, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, 1668, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA

    Nikolaos P. Daskalakis, Amy Lehrner & Rachel Yehuda

  2. Mental Health Patient Care Center and PTSD program, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, 526 OOMH 116/A, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA

    Nikolaos P. Daskalakis, Marlon A. McGill, Amy Lehrner & Rachel Yehuda

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  1. Nikolaos P. Daskalakis
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  4. Rachel Yehuda
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Correspondence to Nikolaos P. Daskalakis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

  2. FactyofLifeSci&Med,Diabts&NutrnSciRshDiv, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. DepartofBiomedicalSci,SchoolofLifeScienc, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Daskalakis, N.P., McGill, M.A., Lehrner, A., Yehuda, R. (2016). Endocrine Aspects of PTSD: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Beyond. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08359-9_130

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