Glucocorticoid secretion is a primary response to stress, and glucocorticoid receptor dysfunction accompanied by hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity has been hypothesized to be one of the major pathophysiologic alterations in MDD [5], [6], although there are some inconsistencies [7], [8]. The gene discussed is NR3C1; the disease is major depressive disorder.