Researchers Work at Customizing Treatments for Depression
November 09, 2007 by
More and more clinicians are realizing the fact that not all treatments work for every patient and are beginning to customize treatments patient by patient. The latest research from the University of Iowa has the possibility to help the doctors treating 
depression patients have a better picture of just which patients will benefit from which drugs, making it easier to achieve success.
They focused their research on one specific gene that is known to be connected with the level of serotonin, which is a chemical that can affect the mood and sleep of the patient when it is present in low levels.
The participants were 96 men and 96 women all of whom have been patients for more than 20 years in a program called the Iowa Adoption Studies, which was begun by Remi Cadoret, M.D., a UI professor of psychiatry who unfortunately passed away in 2005.
The gene that they focused on is one of the transporter genes for serotonin called SLC6A4. They found that methylation - a process that is involved in turning off the functions of the gene - happened more in women with the variant than in men with the same variant. What this means is that, at least in some women, when the gene was expressed less there was less mRNA, the genetic material that is involved in the gene making a protein.
They also checked the patients for depression, but were not able to directly associate the cases of depression with the patients who had the variant.
The current course of treatment for depression is most often Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These help make the serotonin available to the process that eventually aid in the management of both mood and stress.
The researchers feel that a combination of the results from this study and others make up a clearer picture concerning the relationship between serotonin and depression for some patients.
They do caution, though that it is important to be mindful of the fact that genes do not act by themselves when coding for behavior. They code for the proteins and they do that by using messenger RNA or mRNA. Methylation does not allow the production of mRNA
Researchers Work at Customizing Treatments for Depression
They focused their research on one specific gene that is known to be connected with the level of serotonin, which is a chemical that can affect the mood and sleep of the patient when it is present in low levels.
The participants were 96 men and 96 women all of whom have been patients for more than 20 years in a program called the Iowa Adoption Studies, which was begun by Remi Cadoret, M.D., a UI professor of psychiatry who unfortunately passed away in 2005.
The gene that they focused on is one of the transporter genes for serotonin called SLC6A4. They found that methylation - a process that is involved in turning off the functions of the gene - happened more in women with the variant than in men with the same variant. What this means is that, at least in some women, when the gene was expressed less there was less mRNA, the genetic material that is involved in the gene making a protein.
They also checked the patients for depression, but were not able to directly associate the cases of depression with the patients who had the variant.
The current course of treatment for depression is most often Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These help make the serotonin available to the process that eventually aid in the management of both mood and stress.
The researchers feel that a combination of the results from this study and others make up a clearer picture concerning the relationship between serotonin and depression for some patients.
They do caution, though that it is important to be mindful of the fact that genes do not act by themselves when coding for behavior. They code for the proteins and they do that by using messenger RNA or mRNA. Methylation does not allow the production of mRNA
A look at the current treatments for depression including alternative herbal therapies, light therapy, yoga and exercise, diet change, accupuncture and more.
By Wenona Napolitano | Published 7/6/2005 | Read more »
Depression is a medical condition that affects many people every day.
By Charlie Bradley | Published 2/8/2007 | Read more »
No longer should depression be kept in the dark. It is estimated that 17% of people will experience serious depression in their lifetime.
By Cameron Taylor | Published 2/14/2007 | Read more »
You can feel like a new person by using natural cures for depression and anxiety. A cure really means "being the best that you can be" and living happily and normally. Natural treatments can have greater long-term benefits.
By Giri Anantha | Published 11/15/2007 | Read more »
While there are many treatments for depression available, doctors are unsure which type will benefit which patient. Currently, drugs and other treatments are prescribed until the best combination can be found through educated guessing.
By Kay Jones | Published 11/8/2007 | Read more »
In recent years much research has been done on alternative treatments for bipolar disorder and depression.
By Sandi | Published 6/6/2007 | Read more »
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