Wilson da Silva Mothers at risk of premature birth are regularly given synthetic cortisol, a stress hormone that matures an infant's lungs before birth. It has saved thousands of lives and become standard clinical practice.
Trials are now underway in Australia to determine the effects of synthetic cortisol use.
Further information and links plus the tv script of the story. When Diana is 'speedy', she throws dinner parties at the drop of a hat. When she's depressed, she can barely bring herself to eat. Diana has manic depression, medically known as bipolar disorder. On average, it's a condition shared by one in a hundred members of the population.