Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA) - neuroendocrine system - childhood stress

Question 1

people with depression have increased levels of what?

Answer 1

CRF and cortisol

Question 2

what are the cortisol levels in a non depressed person?

Answer 2

flat from late in the afternoon until a few hours before dawn when they begin to rise

Question 3

MDD is associated with multiple endocrine alterations in the HPA axis. T or F

Answer 3

true

Question 4

in a non depressed person, do serum BDNF levels lower with exposure to stress?

Answer 4

no

Question 5

people exposed to childhood stress have what stress response as adults?

Answer 5

exaggerated stress response

Question 6

in a depressed person, when do cortisol levels return to normal?

Answer 6

when the depression resolves

Question 7

people with MDD, stress activated the amygdala and norepinephrine systems causing what symptoms?

Answer 7

increased vigilance, fear and people had an exaggerated stress response and increased levels of CRF and norepinephrine in the plasma

Question 8

what happens when there is a disturbance in function of HPA axis in depression?

Answer 8

cortisol levels spike throughout the day

Question 9

patients with depression have elevated levels of what?

Answer 9

cortisol in the plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and increased levels of CRF messenger RNA and protein in the limbic brain regions

Question 10

sensitivity of the hypothalamus to feedback signals for the shutdown on CRF release is about half in severely depressed patients. T or F

Answer 10

true