The use of mifepristone in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Mifepristone is a potent glucocorticoid and progesterone receptor antagonist. The pathophysiology of a number of neuropsychiatric disorders implicates abnormalities in glucocorticoid function. These include mood disorders such as psychotic major depression and bipolar depression. In addition, cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease might also be partially mediated by abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Preliminary studies suggest that mifepristone might have a role in the treatment of a number of neuropsychiatric disorders.
DeBattista
Charles
C
Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. debattista@stanford.edu
Belanoff
Joseph
J
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D015735:Mifepristone