Ghrelin and depressive symptoms in patients with first-episode drug-naïve major depressive disorder: The mediating role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

These findings revealed that plasma ghrelin provides a pivotal link to depressive symptoms in first-episode drug-naive MDD patients. CRH mediated the relationship between ghrelin and HAMD total score. It might provide new insights into understanding the pathogenesis of MDD, contributing to intervention and treatment from this approach.