Recently discovered gene defect may be the cause of some types of depression

It is believed that abnormal serotonin levels in the brain may be a factor in major depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Researchers have found a genetic defect which may cause these abnormal levels. Depression sufferers with this gene abnormality are unlikely to respond to SSRI treatment and use of these drugs may even be the reason why some are more prone to suicidal behavior and increased mania and psychosis. Thus this discovery may have an application in determining a successful depression treatment. Larger studies are needed to confirm this discovery but it certainly gives a new direction in depression diagnosis and treatment.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Pharma Live

Related Disease Topics:

• Depression
• Neuropsychiatric disorder
• Suicide
• Mania
• Psychosis

Related Symptom Topics:

• Abnormal serotonin level

Article Source Details

About: Recently discovered gene defect may be the cause of some types of depression

Date: 9 December 2004

Source: Pharma Live

URL: http://www.medadnews.com/News/Index.cfm?articleid=197017

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Side effect
• Side effect and depression
• Side effect and neuropsychiatric disorder
• Side effect and suicide
• Side effect and mania
• Side effect and psychosis
• Medication
• Medication and depression
• Medication and neuropychiatric disorder
• Medication and suicide
• Medication and mania
• Medication and psychosis
• Medication and abnormal serotonin level
• Research
• Research and depression
• Research and neuropychiatric disorder
• Research and suicide
• Research and mania
• Research and psychosis
• Research and abnormal serotonin level
• Cause of suicide
• Cause of mania
• Cause of psychosis

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