Women more prone to emotional stress than men 'because of sensitivity to hormone'

Article here. Excerpt:

'Members of the fairer sex are more sensitive to a key stress hormone - with even small amounts sending their emotions into a whirl, research shows. Men, in contrast, are relatively immune to even high amounts of the chemical.
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Researchers say the U.S. study could help explain the differences in the way men and women control their emotions.

Women have higher rates of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety problems than men.

However no one has yet been able to pinpoint a biological reason for the difference.

The study focused on a stress hormone called corticotropinreleasing factor (CRF) which helps control the body's reaction to stress.

CRF is known to play a role in human psychiatric conditions.
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'Pharmacology researchers investigating CRF antagonists (blocking agents) as drug treatments for depression may need to take into account gender differences at the molecular level,' said Dr Valentino.'