Tackling Psychoneuroendocrinology May Lead to Better Treatment and Outcomes

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CONFERENCE REPORTER

In addressing the whole patient and seeing a full picture, it is important to understand the interactions between the brain, the nervous system, and the endocrine system, explained Anita H. Clayton, MD, at the Annual Psychiatric Times® World CME Conference™. Clayton, one of the chairs of the program, shed light on practical psychoneuroendocrinology.

Clayton explained that a hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as well as inflammation and alterations in neurotransmitters interact to reduce neurogenesis. This, in turn, may lead to functional hypoconnectivity in higher cortical regions and hyperconnectivity in limbic areas that are phenotypically expressed as major depressive episodes and related conditions such as sexual and reproductive dysfunction. Thus, a better understanding on how all these systems interact can lead to better treatment options and outcomes for patients.

One of the ways we see this inter-relationship is with depression and sexual dysfunction, she reported. Clayton reviewed a meta-analysis of 6 studies on depression and risk of sexual dysfunction (3285 participants followed for 2 to 9 years) and 6 studies on sexual dysfunction (11,171 participants followed for 1 to 10 years).¹ The researchers found depression was associated with a 50% to 70% increased risk of developing sexual dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction was association with a 130% to 210% increased risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD).

Similarly, when looking at symptoms of menopausal transition and MDD, there is significant overlap, Clayton told attendees.² Common symptomology includes decreased libido, sleep disturbance, concentration and memory problems, anxiety and irritability, loss of interest, fatigue, and weight gain.

There are also relationships between testosterone levels in men and depressive symptoms, Clayton added. In a study of men older than 60 years (N=830) in which testosterone levels and depression were measured, the researchers found an inverse correlation between number of depressive symptoms and testosterone levels.³ Furthermore, they found testosterone had the greatest impact on the development of depression after adjusting for age, educational levels, and living alone.

All of the compelling research has led researcher to explore new treatment options, including the use of allopregnanolone, a neuroactive metabolite of progesterone. In one double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of brexanolone for postpartum depression, researcher found a 70% remission rate in patients taking brexanolone versus 9% in the placebo group.⁴ Similar positive results were found in a study of zuranolone for postpartum depression⁵, Clayton reported.

These results are promising, Clayton concluded. “[They] can lead us to new treatments that might benefit patients who might not otherwise be responding to our current standard treatment.”

The Annual Psychiatric Times® World CME Conference™ was held October 15 – 17. More information can be found here. Next year’s conference is scheduled for September 30 - October 2, 2021, in San Diego.

References

1. Atlantis E, Sullivan T. Bidirectional association between depression and sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sex Med. 2012;9(6):1497-507.

2. Lanza di Scalea T, Pearlstein T. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Med Clin North Am. 2019;103(4):613-628.

3. Kheirkhah F, Hosseini SR, Hosseini SF, et al. Relationship between testosterone levels and depressive symptoms in older men in Amirkola, Iran. Caspian J Intern Med. 2014 Spring;5(2):65-70.

4. Kanes S, Colquhoun H, Gunduz-Bruce H, et al. Brexanolone (SAGE-547 injection) in post-partum depression: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2017;390(10093):480-489.

5. Kanes SJ. Neuroactive steroids as rapid-acting antidepressants: The story of brexanolone and SAGE-217. CINP International Meeting. October 4, 2019; Athens, Greece.