Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression, is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness. It disrupts day-to-day activities and affects how a person feels, thinks, and behaves.
Depression Research
Overthepast20years,researchers workedtobetterunderstandthebiologicalfoundationsof depression. During this period, Dr. David Glahn and a team from Yale University and Hartford Hospital’s InstituteofLiving madeadiscoverythatmayshedsomelightonwhysomepeoplehaveamorechallengingtimewiththedisorder.
GlahnandhisteamisolatedacandidategenecalledRNF123.Findingthisgenegiveshopethat someday majordepressivedisorder betreatedwiththehelpofobjectiveinformation.Traditionally, subjectiveratingscalesandrecountingmentalhealthhistory weretheonlywaytoassessa patient’sexperiencewiththedisorder.
Improved Treatment
Mostpeoplewithmajordepressionfindreliefwithmedication,psychotherapy,oracombinationofthe two. RNF123 is potentially another measure and perhaps an advantage for improving treatment. Whilethegenehasn’tpreviouslybeenlinkedtodepression,ithasbeenshowntoaffectthe hippocampus,thepartofthebrainalteredinpeoplewhoexperiencemajordepression.
Studies show that a smaller hippocampus has been found in people with recurring episodes of treatment-resistant major depression. The connection is unclear, though two theories have been put forward.
The first is that the PNF123 gene may affect the size of the hippocampus, making a person more vulnerable to depression. The second considers that depression left untreated may affect the size of the hippocampus over time. Both of these theories follow the diathesis-stress hypothesis, which posits that mental and physical disorders can develop due to a biological predisposition to an illness mixed with the stressful conditions of a person’s life.
Glahn’s research study helps increase the ability to identify the genes that could cause depression or betargetedforitstreatment.MethodsusedtocollectdataincludedusingMRItolookatalterationsin brain structure and function and gene expression patterns in post-mortem brain tissue from people whohaddepression.Glahnandhisteamalsoworkedtodefineabetterwaytorankbrainstructureand function to measure the genetic importance of an illness.
“We still have more work before believing this is a home-run gene, but we’ve got an excellent candidate,”saidDr.Glahn.
New Dimensions Can Help!
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or problems, New Dimensions can help. Our team of experienced therapists and psychiatrists can help you overcome these challenges and help you develop the skills you need to thrive. To schedule a complementary assessment or to find out more about our programs, contact us at 1-800-685-9796.
Our affiliate, MHThrive, provides Individual Therapy, Couples and Marriage Counseling, and Family Therapy at our locations in Katy, The Woodlands, and the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas. We also provide telehealth therapy for anyone who resides within the State of Texas. To schedule an appointment with one of the MHThrive therapists, contact us at 713-477-0333 or visit www.mhthrive.com to learn more.