Week 4 RF-Endocrinology, Cortisol in Psychopathology

Question 1

What is the Summary of the Main Points in the Core Week 4 Lecture?

Answer 1

-HPA axis components & communication = Hypothalamus releases CRH from paraventricular nucleus 🡪 anterior Pituitary secretes ACTH 🡪 Adrenal cortex releases cortisol

-Amygdala, hippocampus, & prefrontal cortex have glucocorticoid receptors, so cortisol modifies emotion regulation, memory, & cognitive functions

-Cortisol is in blood, saliva, urine, & hair, & there are 5 ways to assess it: (1) overnight, (2) area under the curve, (3) diurnal rhythm, (4) awakening response, & (5) reactivity & recovery

Cortisol is involved in stress-induced analgesia whilst also being elevated in chronic pain patients

Question 2

How does Cortisol modify behaviour?

Answer 2

-Emotion regulation impaired

-Complex effects on memory, disrupting memory formation but sharpening memory consolidation & retrieval

-Cognitive deficits in learning & decision making, & slow extinction of fearful memories

-Observed in rodents & people after long-term exposure to corticosterone/cortisol or stress, suggesting evolutionarily-based functions during stress

Question 3

What are the symptoms of Depression?

Answer 3

-Depressed mood
-Loss of interest/pleasure
-Weight loss or gain
-Insomnia or hypersomnia
-Psychomotor restlessness or slowness
-Fatigue,
-Feeling worthless or excessive guilt
-Decreased concentration
-Thoughts of death/suicide

Question 4

What are some symptoms of Schizophrenia and Psychosis?

Answer 4

-Delusions
-Hallucinations
-Disorganized speech
-Grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour
-Negative symptoms (i.e., affective flattening)

Question 5

Is Cortisol a correlate or cause of psychopathology?

Answer 5

“Although the evidence favours cortisol’s participation in the pathophysiology of psychosis, the exact cause–effect sequence and the intertwining of cortisol with psychopathology are still unclear.” (Karanikas et al., 2014, p. 268)

Question 6

What decreases Cortisol?

Answer 6

-Yoga

-Mindfulness

-Cognitive behavioural therapy

-Humour

-Laughter

Question 7

What is the Summary of the Main Points

Answer 7

-Elevated cortisol is associated w/ risk factors for psychopathology including lower socio-economic status, bereavement, & loneliness

-Elevated cortisol is associated w/ depression & schizophrenia/psychosis

-Behavioural interventions, including yoga, mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy, humour, & laughter, work well in decreasing cortisol