Neuroactive Steroids and Perinatal Depression: a Review of Recent Literature

McEvoy, Katherine; Payne, Jennifer L.; Osborne, Lauren M.

doi:10.1007/s11920-018-0937-4

Cited by 27 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Significant fluctuations in progesterone and allopregnanolone levels during pregnancy, which rise considerably before abruptly decreasing following delivery, may be responsible for the development of PPD pathophysiology [17,18]. From a predictive perspective, the second trimester of pregnancy seems to play an important factor and should be considered in the development of PPD symptoms during the last days of pregnancy and in the post-partum period [19,20]. Neurosteroids rapidly modulate neuronal excitability due to their affinity to ligandgated ion channels and other receptors expressed in the synaptosomal membranes of brain cells and neurons.…”

Section: Neurosteroidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurosteroids and Neurotrophic Factors: What Is Their Promise as Biomarkers for Major Depression and PTSD?

Almeida

Barros

Pinna

2021

IJMS

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Even though major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among the most prevalent and incapacitating mental illnesses in the world, their diagnosis still relies solely on the characterization of subjective symptoms (many of which are shared by multiple disorders) self-reported by patients. Thus, the need for objective measures that aid in the detection of and differentiation between psychiatric disorders becomes urgent. In this paper, we explore the potential of neurosteroids and neurotrophic proteins as biomarkers for MDD and PTSD. Circulating levels of the GABAergic neuroactive steroid, allopregnanolone, are diminished in MDD and PTSD patients, which corroborates the finding of depleted neurosteroid levels observed in animal models of these disorders. The neurotrophic protein, brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), is also reduced in the periphery and in the brain of MDD patients and depressed-like animals that express lower neurosteroid levels. Although the role of BDNF in PTSD psychopathology seems less clear and merits more research, we propose a causal link between allopregnanolone levels and BDNF expression that could function as a biomarker axis for the diagnosis of both MDD and PTSD.

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Section: Neurosteroidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurosteroids and Neurotrophic Factors: What Is Their Promise as Biomarkers for Major Depression and PTSD?

Almeida

Barros

Pinna

2021

IJMS

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“…AP is a potent positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptors. 12 AP has been demonstrated to act on several aspects of the neuron physiology via interacting with the GABA-A receptors. Thereby, it plays a critical role in the development and treatment processes of neurologic and psychiatric disorders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Allopregnanolone Levels in Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adults and the Correlation of Its Levels with Computerized Tomography Images of the Brain

Coşkun

Beceren

Bedel³

2020

Indian Journal of Neurosurgery

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Aim Allopregnanolone (AP) is a steroid of progesterone origin and it can readily pass through the blood–brain barrier. The aim of this study was to determine the AP levels occurring after head trauma in children and adults and to compare these results to the findings observed in the computed tomography (CT) of the respective individuals. Materials and Methods This study was conducted in the period from April 2018 to December 2018 on 92 patients admitted with isolated head trauma and on 80 healthy individuals in similar gender and age groups. The age, gender, and Glasgow Coma Scores of the patients; the cause of the head trauma; and the findings from CT imaging were recorded. Results The levels of AP were significantly lower in the head trauma patients both in the adult and pediatric groups compared with the healthy control groups of respective ages (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the levels of AP were significantly lower in both the pediatric and adult patients with identified pathologies in the CT images compared with their counterpart control groups (p < 0.001). In predicting an existing pathology in the CT, an AP level of > 138.5 was found to be 85.7% sensitive and 85.3% specific in the pediatric patients, and an AP level of >118.3 was 75% sensitive and 83.5% specific in the adult patients. Conclusion The levels of AP in head trauma patients were reduced in both the pediatric and adult patients and these low levels increase the likelihood of detecting pathology in CT images.

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“…NASs cross the blood-brain barrier and, in addition to modifying serotonergic and glutamatergic tone, modify the inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system [21][22][23]. Different NASs can be more or less inhibitory, depending on the extent of their allosteric or direct activation and potentiation of the GABA-A receptor [24]. Psychotropic drugs can modulate NAS levels, and NAS plasma concentrations appear to change in patients with depressive syndromes [25] (for a complete review of NAS in psychiatric illness, see [25] and [26]).…”

Section: Associations Between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Symptoms Of Depression And Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Changes in NAS levels have been implicated in mood and anxiety symptoms at menarche, pre-menstrually, in the postpartum, and during perimenopause [24,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. NAS may also play a role in PCOS; modulation of NAS has been linked to successful treatment of some aspects of PCOS [35].…”

Section: Associations Between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Symptoms Of Depression And Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Affective Symptoms, and Neuroactive Steroids: a Focus on Allopregnanolone

Standeven

Olson

Leistikow

et al. 2021

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review To provide an overview of existing studies on alterations in gonadal and neuroactive steroids (NASs) and mood symptoms among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Recent Findings Recent studies have demonstrated a previously underappreciated association between PCOS and comorbid depression and anxiety. However, most studies on affective symptoms among women with PCOS have been cross-sectional, limiting our knowledge about fluctuations in symptoms over the menstrual cycle and reproductive lifespan for women with PCOS, as well as the potential interplay between NAS alterations and mood symptoms. Changes in the NAS allopregnanolone (ALLO) have been implicated in several reproductive-related psychiatric disorders (e.g., premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression (PPD)) as well as in normal reproductive functioning, warranting further investigation for its potential role in the psychiatric symptoms observed in women with PCOS. Summary Prospective studies evaluating associations between psychiatric symptoms and NAS are needed to elucidate the biological causes of the increased rates of psychiatric symptoms among women with PCOS and inform clinical treatment. ALLO, with its role in normal reproductive function, menstrual dysregulation among women with PCOS, and reproductive-related psychiatric conditions, makes it a particularly intriguing candidate for future investigation.

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Neuroactive Steroids and Perinatal Depression: a Review of Recent Literature

Cited by 27 publications

References 76 publications

Neurosteroids and Neurotrophic Factors: What Is Their Promise as Biomarkers for Major Depression and PTSD?

Neurosteroids and Neurotrophic Factors: What Is Their Promise as Biomarkers for Major Depression and PTSD?

The Role of Allopregnanolone Levels in Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adults and the Correlation of Its Levels with Computerized Tomography Images of the Brain

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Affective Symptoms, and Neuroactive Steroids: a Focus on Allopregnanolone

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