Conceptualizing Major Depression: From Genes to Neuroanatomy to Epidemiology

Authors

• David C. Glahn, Hartford Hospital
• Emma E.M. Knowles, Yale School of Medicine
• Samuel R. Mathias, University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
• Laura Almasy, University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
• Karen Hodgson, Yale School of Medicine
• Nailin Yao, Yale School of Medicine
• Rene L. Olvera, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
• Joanne E. Curran, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
• John Blangero, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

6-21-2016

Abstract

Because its etiology remains largely unexplained, major depression, like other psychiatric diseases, is understood entirely on the basis of symptomatology. Major depression is the most common mental illness and is responsible for substantial mortality, morbidity, and disability. Arguably we know less about the root causes of major depression than about other major mental illnesses (eg, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism). In the current chapter, we examine the literature on the prevalence, diagnostic heterogeneity, risk factors, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, heritability, endophenotypes, and genetic architecture of major depressive disorder. In addition, we briefly discuss current treatments. Whereas epidemiological results stress the heterogeneity and complex nature of the illness, neuroimaging-based models typically ignore the diversity of clinical factors, potentially limiting their usefulness. Although certainly influenced by environmental factors, there is ample evidence for a genetic component to major depression. However, to date no specific genomic variant or gene has been implicated for depression.

Comments

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Recommended Citation

Glahn, D. C., Knowles, E. E., Mathias, S. R., Almasy, L., Hodgson, K., Yao, N., ... & Blangero, J. (2016). Conceptualizing Major Depression: From Genes to Neuroanatomy to Epidemiology. In Genomics, Circuits, and Pathways in Clinical Neuropsychiatry (pp. 487-501). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800105-9.00031-7

First Page

487

Last Page

501

Publication Title

Genomics Circuits and Pathways in Clinical Neuropsychiatry

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-12-800105-9.00031-7