Abstract
Depression is a mental disorder, with different classifications which have as main symptoms, persistent sadness, lack of interest, lack of pleasure, swings between feelings of guilt and low self-esteem, sleep disorders and appetite. It is known that hormonal changes can lead to significant emotional changes and vice versa, due to changes in the central nervous system, action of hormones on specific receptors or by metabolic changes, therefore, the endocrine disorders become one of the possible causes of depression. This work is a study of the major hormones associated with depression. It was drawn from a literature review, in which corticotrophin hormone, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone and thyroid hormones were identified as the main hormones related to depression. These hormones are essential for the correct functioning of the metabolism, therefore, it is observed that hormonal changes may contribute to the development of depression as well as aggravate it or even hamper the treatment of patients who already have the disorder.
Highlights
World Health Organization (WHO) defines depression as a common mental disorder, which, similar to the other depressive disturbances is characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest and pleasure, fluctuations between feelings of guilt and low self-esteem, as well as sleep and/or appetite disorders that affect the everyday operation
These hormones are essential for the correct functioning of the metabolism, it is observed that hormonal changes may contribute to the development of depression as well as aggravate it or even hamper the treatment of patients who already have the disorder
Evidence suggests that hormonal changes may favor the onset of depression, since hormones may be directly associated with the activation, inhibition, or modulation of central nervous system mechanisms associated with depression
Summary
World Health Organization (WHO) defines depression as a common mental disorder, which, similar to the other depressive disturbances is characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest and pleasure, fluctuations between feelings of guilt and low self-esteem, as well as sleep and/or appetite disorders that affect the everyday operation. According to a study carried out in 23 European countries, the depressive disorder is twice higher in women compared to men, reaching them mainly in the fertile periods (Velde et al, 2010) This enhances the relation between hormonal variation and depression, since this is more common in females who undergo constant hormonal influences due to the menstrual cycle. Evidence suggests that hormonal changes may favor the onset of depression, since hormones may be directly associated with the activation, inhibition, or modulation of central nervous system mechanisms associated with depression It is known, for example, that around half of the depressed patients present an increase in the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, represented by the increase of CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone) (Varghese et al, 2001). Based on evidence found in studies linking hormonal dysregulation and depression, a detailed description of the relation of major hormones associated with depression will be given below
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
