Use of antagonists of ghrelin or ghrelin receptor to prevent or treat stress-sensitive psychiatric illness

A method of protecting against stress-sensitive disorders associated with chronic stress in a subject in need thereof, comprising

• administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that reduces the level or activity of ghrelin or ghrelin receptor, compared to before the agent is administered,
• wherein the agent is a growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSr1a) antagonist, a GHSr1a inverse agonist, an enzyme that deacylates ghrelin, or an agent that inhibits the activity of ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT);
• and
• wherein the stress-sensitive disorder is selected from the group consisting of:
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive disorder, major depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, acute stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorders, panic disorders, phobias, and trichotillomania.