Stress-related disorders, such as depression and anxiety, present marked deficits in behavioral and cognitive functions related to reward. These are highly prevalent disabling conditions with high social and economic costs. Furthermore, a significant percentage of affected individuals cannot benefit from clinical intervention, opening space for new treatments. Although the literature data have reported limited and variable results regarding oxidative stress-related endpoints in stress-related disorders, the possible neuroprotective effect of antioxidant compounds, such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), emerges as a possible therapy strategy for psychiatric diseases. Here, we briefly present background information on biological activity of ascorbic acid, particularly functions related to the CNS homeostasis. Additionaly, we reviewed the available information on the role of ascorbic acid in stress-related diseases, focusing on supplementation and depletion studies. The vitamin C deficiency is widely associated to stress-related diseases. Although the efficacy of this vitamin in anxiety spectrum disorders is less stablished, several studies showed that ascorbic acid supplementation produces antidepressant effect and improves mood. Interestingly, the modulation of monoaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems is postulated as pivotal target for the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of this vitamin. Given that ascorbic acid supplementation produces fast therapeutic response with low toxicity and high tolerance, it can be considered as a putative candidate for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, especially those that are refractory to current treatments. Herein, the literature was reviewed considering the potential use of ascorbic acid as an adjuvant in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

与压力有关的疾病，例如抑郁和焦虑，表现出与奖赏有关的行为和认知功能的明显缺陷。这些是高度流行的致残条件，具有很高的社会和经济成本。此外，很大一部分受影响的个体无法从临床干预中受益，这为新的治疗方法打开了空间。尽管文献数据报道了与应激相关疾病中与氧化应激相关终点有关的有限且可变的结果，但抗氧化剂化合物（如抗坏血酸（维生素C））的可能的神经保护作用已成为精神疾病的一种可能的治疗策略。在这里，我们简要介绍抗坏血酸的生物学活性，特别是与中枢神经系统稳态有关的功能的背景信息。另外，我们回顾了有关抗坏血酸在与压力有关的疾病中作用的可用信息，重点是补充和耗竭研究。维生素C缺乏症与压力相关疾病广泛相关。尽管这种维生素在焦虑症谱系中的功效尚不明确，但一些研究表明，补充抗坏血酸可产生抗抑郁作用并改善情绪。有趣的是，单胺能和谷氨酸能神经递质系统的调节被假定为该维生素的抗抑郁和抗焦虑作用的关键靶标。鉴于抗坏血酸补充剂可产生快速的治疗反应，且毒性低，耐受性强，因此可以被认为是治疗情绪和焦虑症的候选药物，尤其是那些目前治疗难以治疗的。本文中，考虑到抗坏血酸作为佐剂治疗焦虑和抑郁症的潜在用途，对文献进行了回顾。