Tests may shed new light on causes of depression

A TYPE of depression may affect people who are genetically at risk of schizophrenia, a new study has suggested.

The Edinburgh University team said its findings could shed light on the causes of depression, which affects about one in five people.

It could also pave the way for better diagnosis and treatments, experts believe.

There is currently no test for diagnosing depression, which has symptoms such as persistent low mood and thoughts of self-harming.

Experts have suggested the condition may be a number of different illnesses with varying causes and effects.

Edinburgh researchers used samples provided by Generation Scotland – a bank of human tissue from volunteers – to look for genetic causes of depression.

They examined whether people with genes putting them at risk of schizophrenia shared genetic make-ups with those who had depression.

The research indicates there may be a distinct group of people with depression who have increased genetic risk for schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is known to share some factors with depression, such as low mood and neuroticism.

Heather Whalley, senior research fellow in Edinburgh University’s division of psychiatry, said: “There appears to be a distinct form of depression based on the risk of schizophrenia.

“The more we know about the causes of different forms of depression, the more likely it is that we can develop better ways of diagnosing and treating what is a major cause of disability and trauma.”

The study, part of an initiative called STRADL – stratifying resilience and depression longitudinally – is funded by the Wellcome Trust.