[NYAPRS Enews] Study: Gene Has No Effect on Major Depression

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Depression Gene? Maybe Not, Study Shows Gene Has No Effect on Major
Depression

By Kelli Miller Stacy <http://www.webmd.com/kelli-miller-stacy>
(Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD <http://www.webmd.com/louise-chang> )
WebMD Health News June 16, 2009 

New research dismisses the widely held notion that a "depression gene"
makes a person facing stressful life events more likely to develop
depression.

In 2003, mental health <http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/default.htm>
researchers announced that a genetic variation that affected the body's
serotonin levels increased a person's risk for major depression
<http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/major-depression>  if they
endured several emotional events. Yet efforts to repeat and confirm that
study's findings have been inconsistent, according to the National
Institute of Mental Health.

Now, scientists reporting in The Journal of the American Medical
Association say that genetic variation of the serotonin transporter
gene, or 5-HTTLPR, may have no effect on depression risk.

The research team went back over data from 14 studies from 2003 through
2009 and analyzed the data collectively. Among the 14,250 patients in
the studies, 1,769 had depression; 12,481 did not.

The analysis showed a strong association between depression and
stressful life events across all the studies, confirming earlier
research. However, the team could not find a link between the serotonin
transporter gene and major depression. They also found no association
between the gene and stressful life events on depression risk.

The scientists say their findings show why it is so important to confirm
results that reveal any type of genetic association for a disease.

"A more serious concern ... is that the findings of this [earlier 2003
study] and other nonreplicated genetic associations are now being
translated to a range of clinical, legal, research, and social settings
such as forensics, diagnostic testing, study participants, and the
general public," writes Neil Risch, PhD, of the University of California
at San Francisco, and colleagues. "It is critical that health
practitioners and scientists in other disciplines recognize the
importance of replication of such findings before they can serve as
valid indicators of disease risk."

Depression Symptoms

If you think you might have depression, seek medical help. There are a
number of different treatment options available to make you feel better.
Depression is different for everyone. In general, symptoms can include:

*         Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiousness, restlessness,
and/or irritability 

*         Feeling hopeless 

*         Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness 

*         Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that
were once enjoyed, including sex 

*         Fatigue, feeling "slowed down," or decreased energy 

*         Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions 

*         Sleeping troubles, including insomnia
<http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-disorders-insomnia> , waking
up too early or sleeping too much 

*         Changes in appetite, which can lead to weight loss
<http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm>  or weight gain 

*         Thoughts of death or suicide
<http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/tc/suicidal-thoughts-or-threats-topi
c-overview> ; suicide attempts (Seek help right away if this happens.) 

*         Physical symptoms that do not go away or get better with
treatment, such as headaches
<http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/default.htm> , stomach
problems, and chronic pain
<http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/default.htm>  

http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20090616/depression-gene-maybe-not 

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