Any type of therapy is effective for depression in no more than 60% of patients. Perhaps the study of the genetic side of depression will help in some cases to more accurately select treatment methods.
Depression accounts for a significant portion of the cost to society due to mental illness. Psychologist Rune Jonassen of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Oslo in Norway says the problem is that doctors are trying to prescribe treatments that statistically help the most people, rather than tailoring individual therapy.
Jonassen himself is engaged in the study of the brain and the relationship between emotions and mental illness. In particular, he and his colleagues are studying the gene that regulates the activity of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. This gene is closely related to the activity of certain areas of the brain that help us notice emotionally significant details in our immediate environment.1
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“Apparently, the reason for the association of this gene with the development of depression lies in our ability to adapt. Owners of a certain variant of this gene are more sensitive to both positive and negative stimuli. So it’s not a «depression gene» but rather a gene associated with the brain’s susceptibility to change. Its owners have a higher risk of developing depression during periods of increased stress. Our brain has a complex system of emotional regulation. Some people are initially more emotional and prone to quick emotional reactions. And people’s ability to deal with their emotions can also differ from individual to individual. All these features are genetically determined,” says the scientist.
Of course, not every owner of this gene is doomed to suffer from depression, he is only at an increased risk of developing this disorder. Nevertheless, Jonassen believes that each patient should ideally be treated individually, taking into account the various mechanisms of depression. Unfortunately, at the moment, the latest scientific data are not yet sufficiently used in clinical practice.
1 R. Jonassen, N.I. Landrø «Serotonin transporter polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR) in emotion processing», Progress in Neurobiology, vol. 117, June 2014.