Lena Edwards, MD, internist, Balance Health & Wellness Center, discusses stress and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are directly linked to HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) and increase in cortisol. SSRIs improve glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. It is important for doctors to measure and identify abnormal cortisol release states in their patients.

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Interaction of Serotonin Transporter Gene-Linked Polymorphic Region and Stressful Life Events Predicts Cortisol Stress Response.
Mueller A, Armbruster D, Moser DA, Canli T, Lesch KP, Brocke B, Kirschbaum C.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 Mar 2.