Psychological vulnerability to stress in carriers of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency

OBJECTIVE Carriers of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) demonstrate increased secretion of Cortisol precursors following ACTH stimulation, suggestive of impaired Cortisol production and compensatory increases in hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secretion. Both Cortisol and CRH have behavioral effects, and hypothalamic CRH hypersecretion has been associated with chronic states of anxiety and depression. We performed an endocrinologic and psychological evaluation in carriers of 21-OHD and matched control subjects.