Testosterone is related to GABA+ levels in the posterior-cingulate in unmedicated depressed women during reproductive life.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic illness that is approximately twice as common in women as in men. The complexity of this disorder notwithstanding, biological factors are suggested as triggers of a depressive episode in women (Albert,  2015). Similarly, anxiety is highly prevalent in women (Remes et al., 2016), and frequently MDD and anxiety are comorbid, suggesting common pathophysiological elements (Wichers et al., 2009). Gender differences in the presentation of MDD and anxiety disorders have been attributed to hormonal f luctuations, as is observed in studies that explore depressive and anxiety symptoms during periods of hormonal fluctuations, such as puberty, postpartum and perimenopause (Dahl and Gunnar, 2009) (Douma et al., 2005, Halbreich, 2010, Flores-Ramos et al., 2014, Flores-Ramos PhD et al., 2017).

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders - August 25, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: M Flores-Ramos, Alcauter S, L ópez-Titla M, Bernal-Santamaría N, Calva-Coraza Edgar, RAE Edden Source Type: research