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Reversibility of disturbed pituitary function in pediatric conditions with psychological stressors: implications for

Aristeidis Giannakopoulos1, Dionisios Chrysis2

  • 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School of Patras, University Hospital, Rio, 26504, Patras, Greece. argianak@upatras.gr.

Hormones (Athens, Greece)
|February 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Psychological stress impacts the brain-pituitary axis, affecting endocrine function and leading to disorders like amenorrhea and PTSD. Management focuses on stress reduction and restoring endocrine reversibility.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology
  • Developmental Endocrinology

Background:

  • The central nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary axis form a complex network crucial for endocrine plasticity and adaptation.
  • This neuroendocrine system is vulnerable to psychological stress, impacting adaptation and health.
  • Stress-related endocrine dysfunction can manifest during childhood and adolescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze clinical conditions arising from psychological stress impacting the neuroendocrine system.
  • To investigate the genetic susceptibility and reversibility of endocrine function in these conditions.
  • To discuss optimized therapeutic strategies focusing on stress management and endocrine recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of clinical conditions linked to psychological stressors and neuroendocrine dysfunction.
  • Examination of genetic factors contributing to susceptibility.
  • Assessment of the reversibility of endocrine function.

Main Results:

  • Psychological stressors can trigger endocrine disorders such as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, eating disorders, growth faltering, post-traumatic stress disorder, and pubertal disorders.
  • These conditions, particularly when emerging in childhood or adolescence, are influenced by genetic susceptibility.
  • Endocrine function demonstrates varying degrees of reversibility.

Conclusions:

  • The neuroendocrine system's plasticity, while adaptive, is a vulnerability to psychological stress.
  • Effective therapeutic management requires addressing stress and enhancing the rate and extent of endocrine function reversibility.
  • Understanding genetic and reversibility factors is key to optimizing treatment for stress-induced endocrine disorders.

Keywords:
Eating disordersFunctional hypothalamic amenorrheaHypopituitarismPost-traumatic stress disorderPsychological stressorsShort stature

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