What changes occur in the hypothalamic adrenal axis with stress

The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (hpa) axis plays a key role in the neuroendocrine response to stress.Normal functioning of the hpa axis ensures that an organism responds appropriately to altered environmental.The physiological changes occur due to the impact on stress hormones.The hypothalamus controls the secretion of acth from the anterior pituitary, which, in turn, stimulates the secretion by the adrenal cortex of glucocorticoid hormones, mainly cortisol in humans.Dynamic changes in hpa axis regulation and hence hpa responsivity occur over the lifetime of an animal.Chronic or extreme stress precipitates dysregulation of the hpa axis concomitant with development of psychopathology, most notably in major depressive disorder.

First episodes may begin with an environmental stressor, but if the cycles continue or occur.