Neurosteroids and Affective Disorders in Women

Neurosteroids (NS) are steroid derived molecules synthesized in the central nervous system (CNS) involved in modulating brain transmission by its activity on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors; this interaction has been identified as an important factor in the pathophysiology of affective disorders. The aim of the present paper is to describe the relation of neurosteroids with affective disorders in women and novel treatments in this regard in an understandable and synthesized review of the subject. A thoroughly made research has been performed in order to find the latest information in this regard using scientific databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords Neurosteroids, affective disorders, depression, postpartum depression and dysphoric premenstrual disorder. It has been seen that NS levels during physiological fluctuation such as during menstrual cycle or postpartum may modify the response to GABA by GABA-A receptors in susceptible women. Recent pharmacological assays have been developed in order to treat affective disorders in women focusing on NS fluctuations. Within this paper, we review recent findings in NS modulating mechanisms, its pathophysiological implications in affective disorders and recent clinical assays in this regard.