CRH and post-traumatic stress disorder: Corticotropin-releasing factor (corticoliberin, or CRH), a hypothalamic peptide stimulator of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) synthesis by the pituitary gland, is of great importance in PTSD pathogenesis with a direct correlation between the severity of PTSD, psychotic disorders, destructive personality disorders, and even suicide (Baker et al., 1999).