|
 The new findings could help explain why not everyone treated with
antidepressants sees their condition improve, the scientists said,
and could also point the way toward new medicines.
In the largest study of its kind, scientists also found that the
genetic basis for depression is shared with other psychiatric
disorders such as schizophrenia and that a number of the variants
are linked to the targets of antidepressant drugs.
Major depression affects around 14 percent of people worldwide and
is the biggest contributor to long-term disability in the general
population. Yet only about half of patients respond well to existing
treatments.
"The new genetic variants discovered have the potential to
revitalize depression treatment by opening up avenues for the
discovery of new and improved therapies," said Gerome Breen of
King's College London, who worked on the research team.
[to top of second column] |
The study - published on Thursday in the journal Nature Genetics -
was a global effort, with data covering more than 135,000 patients
with major depression and around 344,000 controls as comparisons.
"This study has shed a bright light on the genetic basis of
depression, but it is only the first step," said Cathryn Lewis,
another King's College London expert who worked on the team.
"We need further research to uncover more of the genetic
underpinnings, and to understand how genetics and environmental
stressors work together to increase risk of depression."
(Reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Gareth Jones, Larry King)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
