Relation between Depression and Hormonal Dysregulation

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.