healthmedicinet

FKBP5 is essentially a regulator of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, our central stress response system, which is responsible for the release of cortisol, colloquially known as “the stress hormone.” Our biological response to stress is to release cortisol–in concert with several other factors–to prepare us to cope with stressful situations. However, a dysfunction in this process, resulting in an excessive or insufficient activation of this system, is likely to predispose one to developing PTSD, depression, and other psychiatric disorders.