Purpose Of Review: Our current understanding of the underlying mechanisms and etiologies of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) is not clearly identified. The relationship of stress-induced adaptations (i.e., the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the immune system) and the microbiota are potential contributors to psychopathology exhibited in women during pregnancy and postpartum and should be investigated.
Recent Findings: The stress response activates the HPA axis and dysregulates the ANS, leading to the inhibition of the parasympathetic system. Sustained high levels of cortisol, reduced heart variability, and modulated immune responses increase the vulnerability to PMAD. Bidirectional communication between the nervous system and the microbiota is an important factor to alter host homeostasis and development of PMAD. Future research in the relationship between the psychoneuroimmune system, the gut microbiota, and PMAD has the potential to be integrated in clinical practice to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-0998-z | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Bridging the gap: The endocannabinoid system as a functional fulcrum for benzodiazepines in a novel frontier of anxiety pharmacotherapy.
Pharmacol Ther
January 2025
Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address:
While benzodiazepines have been a mainstay of the pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders, their short-term efficacy and risk of abuse have driven the exploration of alternative treatment approaches. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has emerged as a key modulator of anxiety-related processes, with evidence suggesting dynamic interactions between the eCB system and the GABAergic system, the primary target of benzodiazepines. According to the existing literature, the activation of the cannabinoid receptors has been shown to exert anxiolytic effects, while their blockade or genetic deletion results in heightened anxiety-like responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe silent pandemic of stress: impact on menstrual cycle and ovulation.
Stress
December 2025
Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
In the current age of technological advancement, stress has emerged as a silent pandemic affecting individuals, especially young generations, globally. Factors such as increased competition, social pressures fueled by social media and smartphones, and a sense of diminished control in the face of modern challenges contribute to rising stress levels. In addition to the negative implications on mental well-being, stress affects physiological processes such as the menstrual cycle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRelationship Between Depression and Epigallocatechin Gallate from the Perspective of Gut Microbiota: A Systematic Review.
Nutrients
January 2025
School of Pharmacy, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang 422000, China.
Depression, a serious mental illness, is characterized by high risk, high incidence, persistence, and tendency to relapse, posing a significant burden on global health. The connection between depression and gut microbiota is an emerging field of study in psychiatry and neuroscience. Understanding the gut-brain axis is pivotal for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of depression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRegulation of Stress-Induced Immunosuppression in the Context of Neuroendocrine, Cytokine, and Cellular Processes.
Biology (Basel)
January 2025
Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 123098 Moscow, Russia.
Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of stress-induced immunosuppression and developing reliable diagnostic methods are important tasks in clinical medicine. This will allow for the development of effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of conditions associated with immune system dysfunction induced by chronic stress. The purpose of this review is to conduct a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of existing data on the regulatory mechanisms of stress-induced immunosuppression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRole of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Chronic Pain and Alzheimer's Disease-A Review.
J Biochem Mol Toxicol
February 2025
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, People's Republic of China.
The coexistence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and chronic pain (CP) in the elderly population has been extensively documented, and a growing body of evidence supports the potential interconnections between these two conditions. This comprehensive review explores the mechanisms by which CP may contribute to the development and progression of AD, with a particular focus on neuroinflammatory pathways and the role of microglia, as well as the activation of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. The review proposes that prolonged pain processing in critical brain regions can dysregulate the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome within microglia, leading to the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and excessive oxidative stress in these regions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!