NR3C1 and mood disorder: On the other hand, increased levels of corticotropin- release factor (CRF) in pups as a result of maternal separation was shown to be associated with serious mood disorders in adulthood (Meaney, 2001) There is similar evidence that suicide victims with a history of domestic violence and childhood abuse showed increased DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) gene leading to increased HPA (hypothalmis-pitutary-adrenal axis) activity resulting in elevated stress levels, also suggesting that suicide has a developmental origin (McGowan et al., 2009) (Figure 6).