title: Corticotropin-releasing hormone: from endocrinology to psychobiology.
abstract: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a brain neuropeptide which coordinates the endocrine, autonomic and behavioral responses to stress. We review the abnormal response to exogenous CRH in various psychiatric syndromes, including major depression and anorexia nervosa. We also contrast pituitary responses to CRH in patients with depression versus Cushing's disease. We hypothesize that CRH may play a role in the pathogenesis of various psychiatric syndromes which are characterized during their course by the symptom of depression.
authors.affiliation: Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kling
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Demitrack
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Geracioti
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone