The link between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and stress was extensively studied in the past decades. The aim of this paper is to attempt at connecting the effects of stress and the pathogenesis of MDD by reviewing the latest data found in literature regarding the evolution of the stress concept, action of stressors on the most involved in stress process brain areas, and the pathogenic theories of depression. Three main conclusions are drawn, namely: 1. the possibility that, under the current diagnostic criteria of MDD, several diseases with different physiopathological but common clinical presentation are hidden; 2. the importance of early detection and prevention of disorder – in the light of data that supports the degenerative and progressive nature of major depression; 3. study of the role of stress in the pathogenesis of depression raises new possibilities in terms of psychosocial interventions, as well as the delimitation of the vulnerable populations to major depressive disorder.
Keywords:- amygdala
- brain-derived neurotrophic factor
- corticotropin releasing hormone
- glutamate
- hypotalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis
- major depressive disorder
- oxidative stress
- stress