Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40243556›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Chronic Stress-Associated Depressive Disorders: The Impact of HPA Axis Dysregulation and Neuroinflammation on the Hippocampus-A Mini Review.

Ai Ai Lei, Vanessa Wen Xian Phang, Yu Zhao Lee, Audrey Siew Foong Kow, Chau Ling Tham, Yu-Cheng Ho, Ming Tatt Lee

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 114 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
114citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

114 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Oxytocin as regulator of stress and inflammation in aging.Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Sleep disturbances as early indicators of incident psychiatric disease.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. PMiScience · 2026
    Review
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Article

54 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ai Ai LeiFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
Vanessa Wen Xian PhangFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
Yu Zhao LeeFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.
Audrey Siew Foong KowFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0002-4601-4286
Chau Ling ThamDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0002-9734-0372
Yu-Cheng HoSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 82445, Taiwan.
Ming Tatt LeeFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.ORCID 0000-0003-3957-2439

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chronic stress significantly contributes to the development of depressive disorders, with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis playing a central role in mediating stress responses. This review examines the neurobiological alterations in the hippocampus linked to HPA axis dysregulation in chronic stress-associated depressive disorders. The prolonged activation of the HPA axis disrupts cortisol regulation, leading to the decline of both physical and mental health. The chronic stress-induced HPA axis dysfunction interacts with inflammatory pathways and generates oxidative stress, contributing to cellular damage and neuroinflammation that further aggravates depressive symptoms. These processes result in structural and functional alterations in the hippocampus, which is essential for emotional regulation and cognitive function. Comprehending the impact of chronic stress on the HPA axis and associated neurobiological pathways is essential for formulating effective interventions for depressive disorders. This review summarises the existing findings and underscores the necessity for future investigations into intervention strategies to improve physical and psychological wellbeing targeting at HPA axis dysregulation for the betterment of psychological wellbeing and human health.

Indexed as

Depressive DisorderHippocampusHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemNeuroinflammatory DiseasesPituitary-Adrenal SystemStress, PsychologicalAnimalsChronic DiseaseHumansInflammationchronic stressHPA axishuman healthmajor depressive disorderneuroinflammationoxidative stress

Identifiers

PMID40243556
PMCPMC11988747

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.