Depression gene found

News.com.au ^ | 02/26/2006 | By Clair Weaver and Andrew Chesterton

[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.

[drhogan]

i'm not doing very well at posting today--i tried to post to you to acknowledge that i had posted to you by mistake, but i managed to post to myself instead! (nothing quite like apologizing to yourself).

[Tunehead54]

Apology not accepted. ;-)

I think you're like my twin brother except he knows he has to work on his sense of humor. He's depressed too. I am going to make you apologise to me - in public. Watch.

First, I know either you or someone close to you is depressed. Well, we all have our troubles ... you're actually lucky - I considered posting this to breaking news except the AMs seeem to be on the ball as of late and frown on that approach. ;-)

I think it was maybe post #2 that brought up "Gene". Look for the pic. "I am deeeeepressed" is a piece out of Blazing Saddles. I am depressed. That doesn't mean I can't laugh at myself.

As a cold bastard I give to the Salvation Army, VFW, a children's hospital and others I will not name. When I see some kid trying to get to work putting a $1.85 in their tank - I'll give them what I have in my wallet and walk away Don't worry cash is overrated when you have debit and credit cards - I'll be OK. With my cell phone I don't even need a quarter.

Waiting in an ATM line recently I gave $60 to a gal with a beat up bike with a VERY beat up seat. She was going to work and couldn't get the ATM to accept her $10 deposit. I helped her deposit it. She wouldn't take it - I just tossed it in her basket.

Over Christmas we went to WDC. If someone even showed some sign of humanity I'd give'm $20. Drove my kids crazy when they saw it but I had fun - Santa in WDC - they'd say "how much did you give him/her?" I'd always just say "Fifty bucks." - it got to be a joke. Extra towels from the maid? Fifty bucks! ;-) Drove them crazy. Normally I'm on my own when I play Santa.

I do this regularly - I think it was Abbey or Anne that suggested - "random acts of kindness". Oh and I hold doors for old ladies, old men and families with strollers. And I did not kick my dog today but I did throw the ball for him and cleaned out his and the cat's water dish (separate items). ;-)

Oh, yes - its kind of selfish in a cold-hearted bastard kind of way - I do enjoy seeing people's face lighting up - I'm not Bill Gates but I've got more than the hard working kid putting $1.85 into his tank. ;-)

The guy (aggressive panhandler) who threatened my family - I know he thinks I'm a cold bastard. I can guarantee you he'll remember me. Mike, the shoe-shine vet outside Ebbett's Grill, I think would disagree.

Also after a couple of late nights at The Willard circular bar nobody would let me pay for a drink. 11 pm and the kids are asleep. I'm in DC and can talk politics, smoke and drink in a friendly, warm place? Nah - just watch a movie. Riiiight! ;-) Boy I love these smileys. Makes me all warm and undepressed inside. You know?

I am lucky - but I am also depressed. Runs in the family. I think its my short gene.

I actually do have people who love me but it may be more in spite of myself than because of myself.

Oh - for local creds you can check with the Hobbit Hole - I've helped send over 3 or 4 knives each one which I wish I had bought for myself - I figure they need them more than I do.

PatricaRuth might stand up for me too. Including relatives over in Iraq I know we've sent a fair amount of stuff including most of my paperback book collection. 20 years of the best.

You are not pardoned until you recognize that "smileys", like a /sarc tag are intended to denote "humor" or sarcasm. Especially because given our varied backgrounds there is bound to be someone who does not get it and even go so far as to offend a member of the group she/he was defending.

Oh - did I mention that I have 8 "Gallon" blood donor pins as an O-Neg Universal Donor? That's the stuff they give to a patient when there's no time to tissue type - especially newborns. Right now I can't donate but I'm working on it.

Also my kids sometimes laugh at my jokes and so does my wife of 25 years.


Did you hear the one where a freshman gal, new at Harvard asked a senior "Where's the library at?".

The senior replied "At Harvard we do NOT end a sentence with a preposition!".

So the frosh smiled and said: "Oh sorry - where's the library at - Bitch?"

Apology made: _______ (just initial the line): ;-)

DemK; Sorry - you hit a nerve here too and unluckily for you I'm just out on my porch listening to my music with not a lot else to do. Oh, and I'm not waiting to see Bode whatshisname lose - I already read about it.

Cold Bastard (aka TH54)

;-) ;-) ;-)

Dang! I can't help myself - Hee Hee! Hope you enjoyed the read as much as I had typing it! Free advice: Lighten up a little it can't hurt. ;-)

[rvoitier]

oxcart,

That's interesting. I heard about 5htp and found this. It surprised me it wasn't roundly debunked as it's the first time I've heard of it.

Thanks for the added reference.

[Vision]

Do you think that it is a conscious decision to prefer to be attracted to your own sex?

I think it's a subconscious behavior and has nothing to do with the genes

[Vision]

Better to be silent and be thought a fool than to make it a certainty

I'm right, are you threatened by that?

[Vision]

Please don't lump us all as whiny victims

I don't mean to do that at all. I've been depressed in my life and been to the professionals to solve the problem, which did not work. You are not depressed because you are weak. You are depressed because the life pattern you are in produces more sadness then joy. If it's external unhappiness, that's easy to change. Internal is harder and you should think about what triggers bad feelings. I promise you you can figure it out. It will take time becuase it's hard to change but the rewards are endless.

[Vision]

very old theory there, and not true at all

Says you

[Vision]

Expressing it how? Murder? Assault? Suicide? Primal screaming?

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been proven over and over again in studies. The world is not flat nor the center of the universe, it appears.

Mediate on the feelings and try screaming if that is what's needed. I'd suggest you don't do anything dramatic. You'll get there, you have to. The source of your being is happiness.

[Vision]

Untrue in my experience. Explanation is from another era, the Freud Sophistic, shall we say

I promise you you're wrong.

[Vision]

Yeah, it's really depressing news to those who want to wallow in it

I don't think anyone wants to wallow in it, they just don't understand themselves and how to help them self.

[Vision]

Clinical depression is a disease of the brain, just like Parkinson's or epilepsy. Someone who is severely depressed can't heal themselves by positive thinking any more than Ronald Reagan could have healed his Parkinson's by positive thinking. Yes, we can choose how we respond to things but there is a certain point beyond which positive thinking will not go.

Please show me a study that states an autopsy on the depressed has discovered diseased brain tissue.

[Vision]

Thanks and you know you're right

[Vision]

Depression is very serious and needs attention. But the attention is spiritual, not medical. Anti depressants can help someone really hurting to understand what feeling good can be like.

[Vision]

Do you think that it is a conscious decision to prefer to be attracted to your own sex?

If you really want my two cents I think it's a subconscious protection of the ego

[Vision]

see 234, I always do this

[Pure Country]

This is kind of off topic, but not really. Our grandson has a syndrome where he doesn't breathe when he falls asleep so he must be on a vent when he goes to bed or is ill. He's nine and doing fine. His mom and dad just got the results of a genetic study and found out that neither of them are carriers.

My grandson asked how he ended up with the gene and his mother told him that it mutated. He said, "Great, I'm a mutant!" and he's thrilled. Go figure! Must be watching those turtles or something.

He has CCHS if anyone is familiar with it. It is very rare. When he was born there were about 50 cases in the US. Very few doctors are familiar with it so he travels almost 5 hours to a doctor.

[bonfire]

Your "shy" reasoning is completely opposite of those I know with Depression. EVERYONE I know (and quite a few in my family) with depression is more of a type A personality. They DEMAND they be heard almost to the point of rudeness, talk incessantly and can be very overbearing. They are sometimes the MOST fun people to be around but can also "turn" on a dime. They aren't big on "socializing" with friends, but when they ARE around they are the center of attention. It's an odd mix of traits and sometimes hard to nail down.

One of my best friends suffers from depression but you would NEVER know it as she's hilariously funny and loud. When people find out that she has a depression problem, they are always shocked.

[slimer]

If this is truish, it will be one in the eye for all those who tell me it's somehow my own fault.

I completely understand what you mean. Depression is something I have been dealing with for most of my life and I've heard it all: "snap out of it", pull yourself up by your bootstraps", "stop feeling sorry for yourself", "think positive", .....

Most everyone gets depressed at some point in their lives due to an event like losing a loved one or some kind of crisis. There is a difference between something that occurs that causes a person to become depressed and having a depressive illness that has no apparent cause.

Depression that is brought on by circumstances, usually can be overcome by going through the grieving process and time. On the other hand, Major clinical depression is an illness and although it can be treated, in some cases it is a life time illness.

In my case, it comes and goes, is unpredictable and is not related to circumstances or events. I have experienced times when I thought my depression was gone for good and suddenly find myself back in the dark hole again.

[Jorge]

Please pity those ignoramuses who say that your depression is your fault. I've known some great people who have struggled with depression and I salute your efforts to make the best of your life even though you sometimes feel like giving up. Please continue to hang in there and know that your family and friends love you, even if some are ignorant about depression. Hopefully this scientific breakthrough will result in a cure.

Happiness is a choice. As Abe Lincoln said, men are a about as happy as they decide to be.

Most of those stuck on depression are irresponsible and full of self pity, blaming everyone else and the world for their lot in life.
How stupid. What a waste of time.

[Vision]

I'm not really sure what to say but I wish you well and will say a prayer for your family