New insight into treatment-resistant depression: a mutant gene

[Nothing Without Hope]

I posted about this new report in the General Discussion forum a couple of days ago, but no one noticed. I think it's important enough to repost here, and I hope you do too. There are implications for understanding the physiological basis of predisposition to depression as well as for better treatment.

BTW, I have had treatment-resistant depression myself, and I have found acupuncture to be quite helpful as well as -- to my surprise -- a pleasant experience. It's important to choose the right acupuncturist, though. I'd be happy to expound more to anyone who would like to ask about this.
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(snip)
Mutant Gene Linked To Treatment-Resistant Depression

A mutant gene that starves the brain of serotonin, a mood-regulating chemical messenger, has been discovered and found to be 10 times more prevalent in depressed patients than in control subjects, report researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Patients with the mutation failed to respond well to the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressant medications, which work via serotonin, suggesting that the mutation may underlie a treatment-resistant subtype of the illness.

The mutant gene codes for the brain enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase-2, that makes serotonin, and results in 80 percent less of the neurotransmitter. It was carried by nine of 87 depressed patients, three of 219 healthy controls and none of 60 bipolar disorder patients. Drs. Marc Caron, Xiaodong Zhang and colleagues at Duke University announced their findings in the January 2005 Neuron, published online in mid-December.

"If confirmed, this discovery could lead to a genetic test for vulnerability to depression and a way to predict which patients might respond best to serotonin-selective antidepressants," noted NIMH Director Thomas Insel, M.D.

(snip)

Report from Science Daily News:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041217102737.htm

Original NIH/NIMH news release and related links:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/tryptophangene.cfm

[Stew225]

1. Thanks for sharing. Major history of

this in my family. Have you heard of opiate therapy for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression. Of course, the patient cannot be an addictive type since it's important to keep the doses low and consistent.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. No, I haven't heard about this. Any online articles to recommend?

I'd be very interested in learning more, if you know of articles or other material we can read about this therapy.

[Ladyhawk]

2. Thanks! I have treatment-resistant depression.

I don't respond to SSRIs, but I will arm myself with this information.

On edit: after I read the information, I see I'm a prime candidate for having this mutant gene. I don't respond to SSRIs and I have a family history that matches the one described.

Thank you for reposting this!

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. I recommend reading the entire article

For example, there were interesting findings with the bearers of the mutant gene in the "normal" category.

[satya]

3. Thanks--this is the first I've heard of this.

Could lead to some promising alternatives. I'd like to hear more about your success with accupuncture. I'm interesting in finding non-chemical ways of treating depression.

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. I'll post more about the acupuncture later. In the meantime...

...I have proposed to the administrators that there should be a "Medicine and Public Health" forum at DU. At present, there's only a generalized "science" forum and a conglomerated "health and education" forum (I don't recall this one's exact name, it's that obscure).

We need a place to post important medical news and discuss it as well as the political issues that affect public health. If you agree, please write to the administration and tell them so.

I'll add another post to this thread tonight or tomorrow describing some my experiences with the acupuncture, so please check back if you are interested. If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me.