NR3C1 and depressive disorder: 2013). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction is a marker of neuroendocrine abnormality for depression (Thomson and Craighead 2008). Chronic stress leads to the hyperactivity of the HPA axis and overproduction of glucocorticoids (Herman et al. 2016). Sustained high levels of glucocorticoids activate glucocorticoid receptors and induce neuronal cell damage, as well as impair neurogenesis in the brain and cause depression symptoms (Zhu et al. 2006; Murray et al. 2008).