From the development of depression endophenomenological classification to differential antidepressant treatment

Abstract

The article describes the endofenomenological features of the different subtypes of depression based on modern views about disfunction in the immune and endocrine systems. The key role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation in the pathogenesis of depression is marked. Some research studies are conducted with the aim to find the differences in immune response in patients with melancholic and atypical depression. Data about the effect of antidepressants on endocrine and immunological indices are considered. Based on these results new differentiated approaches to pharmacotherapy are proposed.