The potential role of a corticotropin-releasing factor receptor-1 antagonist in psychiatric disorders.

CNS Spectr 13:6 June 2008 467 NEW TREND IN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a key mediator of the stress response in humans. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) type 1 receptor (CRFR-1) in the pituitary gland is a gatekeeper for that response, and the CRFR-1 receptor is also present in many other moodand cognition-related neural structures. Behaviorally, a number of relationships between stress and psychiatric disorders can be observed: chronic or repeated stress is associated with onset of depression; stressors can cause a recovering alcoholic to relapse; overactive stress responses mark many anxiety disorders; and insomnia can arise from an overactive stress response. Thus, a CRFR-1 antagonist could be useful for treating or preventing the consequences of CRF-mediated stress in depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse.