Editing Mood disorder (section)

===Sex differences===
Mood disorders, specifically stress-related mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, have been shown to have differing rates of diagnosis based on sex. In the United States, women are two times more likely than men to be diagnosed with a stress-related mood disorder.<ref name="Sex-dependent effects of chronic va">{{cite journal |last1=Rosinger |first1=Zachary |title=Sex-dependent effects of chronic variable stress on discrete corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 cell populations |journal=Physiology & Behavior |date=2020|volume=219 |page=112847 |doi=10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112847 |pmid=32081812 |pmc=7540729 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blume |first1=Shannon |title=Disruptive effects of repeated stress on basolateral amygdala neurons and fear behavior across the estrous cycle in rats |journal=Scientific Reports |date=23 August 2019 |volume=9 |issue=1 |page=12292 |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-48683-3|pmid=31444385 |pmc=6707149 |bibcode=2019NatSR...912292B |doi-access=free }}</ref> Underlying these sex differences, studies have shown a dysregulation of stress-responsive neuroendocrine function causing an increase in the likelihood of developing these affective disorders.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Weiser |first1=Michael |title=Androgen regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) mRNA expression and receptor binding in the rat brain |journal=Experimental Neurology |date=26 July 2008 |volume=214 |issue=1 |pages=62–68 |doi=10.1016/j.expneurol.2008.07.013 |pmid=18706413|pmc=2891365 }}</ref> Overactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis could provide potential insight into how these sex differences arise. Neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is released from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, stimulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release into the blood stream. From here ACTH triggers the release of glucocorticoids such as cortisol from the adrenal cortex. Cortisol, known as the main stress hormone, creates a negative feedback loop back to the hypothalamus to deactivate the stress response.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ramot |first1=Assaf |title=Hypothalamic CRFR1 is essential for HPA axis regulation following chronic stress |journal=Nature Neuroscience |date=March 2017 |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=385–388 |doi=10.1038/nn.4491 |pmid=28135239|s2cid=5017743 }}</ref> When a constant stressor is present, the HPA axis remains overactivated and cortisol is constantly produced. This chronic stress is associated with sustained CRF release, resulting in the increased production of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and serving as a potential mechanism for differences in prevalence between men and women.<ref name="Sex-dependent effects of chronic va"/>