Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2009) 15: 250-252. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.108.005983
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Targeting the HPA axis in major depression: does it work?

INVITED COMMENTARY ON... ANTIGLUCOCORTICOIDS IN PSYCHIATRY{dagger}

Stephan Claes

Stephan Claes is Professor of Psychiatry at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He is also a senior clinical investigator of the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders. His research interests are the function of the HPA axis and its genetic background in psychiatric disorders.

Correspondence: Correspondence Professor Stephan Claes, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Email: Stephan.Claes{at}uzleuven.be

In the search for antidepressant drugs with enhanced efficacy, targeting the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a valid strategy. This commentary critically summarises the evidence for the efficacy of antidepressant drugs targeting the HPA axis, and concludes that the available clinical trials do not support claims that this class of drugs is superior to existing treatments.


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