Posted on 02/25/2006 8:22:24 AM PST by oxcart
IN a world first, researchers from NSW have discovered the gene responsible for depression.
After 25 years' research, scientists have found that people who carry a particular gene are more likely to suffer depression regardless of their life experiences. The medical breakthrough will have major ramifications for diagnosis and treatment of the disease which affects one in four Australians.
The study, to be published in the prestigious British Journal of Psychiatry this week, shows that people who carry a short serotonin transporter gene are predisposed to depression.
Conversely, those who carry a long version of the serotonin transporter gene would be more resilient to whatever life throws at them.
Around 43per cent of the population is believed to carry the short version of the gene.
The breakthrough comes in the wake of a series of recent high-profile cases of depression, including former WA premier Geoff Gallop, the late rugby league legend Steve Rogers and former state opposition leader John Brogden.
Former Australian Olympic swimmer John Konrads and actor Garry McDonald were also sufferers. It is hoped the findings could be used to pre-warn carriers of their susceptibility and take early preventative treatment.
Mr Konrads described the breakthrough as exciting.
"I think it's wonderful to think that people who might have that doubt could confidentially find if they're conducive to depression or not, that would be fantastic," he said.
The serotonin transporter gene, which is responsible for our uptake of "feel good" serotonin and mood control, has been implicated in depression before - but this is the first and most conclusive evidence of its true role.
If you'll note, I made specific observations in subsequent posts about my own life and the one time that I found myself without a social network or the tools to build one in the community I lived in. I didn't lack a social network because I was depressed. I lacked a social network because I had little or no common interests or experiences with the rest of the community.
Furthermore, I firm believe (from observation) that shy people are much more apt to wind up lonely and depressed than extroverted people. It's so constant that I can't see anyone actually refuting it.
I'm speaking as someone who has long battled clinical depression.
You're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts: depression is a disease, and it kills. Your kind of "it's nothing, just shake it off" attitude contributes to the death toll.
If you don't understand the disease, research the sad case of late freeper "TrappedinLiberalHell," or tell it to his surviving girlfriend, freeper "KangarooJacqui."
It is definitely a struggle to live with. Her level of depression seems to go in cycles, sometimes lasting months at a time. If you don't have depression or live with someone who suffers from depression, it is difficult to understand the magnitude of the disease.
Also add Jack London and the author of Red Badge of Courage
no eye for irony.
I LOVE irony! It helps me laugh at life which very often is a four letter word.
Like the time I saw a brand new Ford Thunderbird with Go Navy stickers and a Go Navy personal license plate on the back end.
I thought something was wrong with the car until I finally realized:
The Thunderbirds are AIR FORCE!!!
Blessed are the merciful, you are very blessed indeed.
I guess that makes you perfect, so why are you on this thread?
Congrats, you do a great impression of a cold bastard.
The italics indicated a quote of Vimto's. Thanks for your concern though!
What on earth are you talking about?
The latter probably don't exist; and depression is nothing at all like the former. This article, and our discussions here, have nothing to do with what you are posting.
I worked with a very polished, outgoing man. We got to talking once about medical things, and he told me he had been hospitalized for anxiety attacks. Never in a million years would I have ever thought that. For me to be surprised just shows that I was judging a book by its cover. Sounds like you do the same thing.
With regard to your presentation of your depression.... it's like someone who had a sprained ankle criticizing someone with a broken ankle. "I was able to walk through it, and only needed a day or two off of it. You're malingering."
Pardon me if I offended you, really. This subject hits close to home, so pardon me if I don't appreciate your humor or smiley faces when it comes to depression.
I believe it was a contaminated batch from Japanese manufacturer Denko Showa, which had employed a new maufacturing technique that didn't quite cut it. The problem had nothing to do with Tryptophan itself - rather the method of manufacture.
The FDA used this incident to pull L-Tryptophan from store shelves, despite many people benefitting from it in use for depression and insomnia. Coincidentally (not?), immediately after L-Tryptophan was pulled, a major magazine featured the new, and now famous, anti-depressant drug Prozac on its front cover.
5-HTP, a pre-cursor that was one-step closer to the conversion target that is Serotonin, was released by supplement manufacturers and had some success.
L-Typtophan has crept back onto supplement store shelves. Do an online search and you will find many selling it.
One should note that a deficiency of Serotonin (L-Tryptophan is converted to Serotonin), is not the sole cause of depression. Thus, those reading this thread should not assume it is going to be a wonder drug, just as Prozac itself and every other new anti-depressant medication is not a wonder-drug.
It still doesn't mean that most cases of depression aren't misdiagnosed however. I still maintain that it's diagnosed way too often.
Btw, Jacqui seems to be banned. Just thought you should know.
Possibly. However, I'm bowing out of this discussion, and all threads involving mental health in the future. I failed to use common sense and realize just how (naturally) sensitive people are about these issues, especially when they themselves might suffer from the affliction at hand.
It was never my intent flame or to cause undue harm to those who struggle with mental illness. So please, accept my apology and understand that I meant no slight to those who suffer from genuine emotional infirmities.
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