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

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: depression; depressiongene; disorders; gene; genetics; health; itwasattheduallalong; medicine; mentalillness; serotonin
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To: Mrs. Shawnlaw

There has been strong epidemiological evidence of the inheritability of the tendency toward depression for at least forty years. In populations all over the world.

I for one don't think one gene is involved. Depression is too variable a condition for one gene to be responsible.


61 posted on 02/25/2006 9:34:21 AM PST by cajungirl (no)
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To: Vision
Next they'll be saying being gay is in the genes

Are you trying to be funny?

Homosexual behavior is not exclusive to human beings...but I'm sure you already know that.

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

62 posted on 02/25/2006 9:34:22 AM PST by DCPatriot ("It aint what you don't know that kills you. It's what you know that aint so" Theodore Sturgeon)
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To: butternut_squash_bisque

The gene may be present in 25% but doesn't necessarily express itself in all of them. I think they call it varying degrees of expression.


63 posted on 02/25/2006 9:35:54 AM PST by cajungirl (no)
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To: technochick99
thanks for the post. I think of my life as half full - its hard to express how bad I was - I thought I had rotted inside and ..aw, you know the kind of thing.

thats why I am not sure about changing the meds. At least I can function most of the time.

I do use CBT that I got form a self help book and constantly challenge my unhelpful thoughts (I'm useless, usually, or knives cutting my throat).

But I recently discussed with my wife that I intend to go to a CBT therapist and see if it helps. I do have a lot of respect for the therapy.

Kind regards.
64 posted on 02/25/2006 9:36:01 AM PST by vimto
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To: oxcart

Are we talking the turn to the left thing?


65 posted on 02/25/2006 9:36:15 AM PST by DoughtyOne (If you don't want to be lumped in with those who commit violence in your name, take steps to end it.)
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To: Vision
Physc 101, depression is anger turned inward. There is not a depression in the world that cannot be relieved by expressing the withheld anger.

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

66 posted on 02/25/2006 9:37:15 AM PST by Stentor
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To: VeritatisSplendor; vimto; oxcart

About 90% of my family members suffer from depression. We can trace it back to my Great Grandfather too. It is a daily struggle to keep the "beast" at bay. It really helps to be able to talk to other family member to bring you back to reality. There is a wonderful book "Conquering the Beast Within...How I Fought Depression and Won and How You Can Too" by Cait Irwin. This book was written by a teenager and has illustrations. It is great for ALL ages. I have purchased 4 copies for other people who tell me that it really helped them. I highly recommend it.


67 posted on 02/25/2006 9:37:26 AM PST by toomanygrasshoppers ("In technical terminology, he's a loon")
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To: Vision
I guess you believe depression is in the genes and you can't do anything about it.

Actually, we DO believe we can do something about it. If it's in the genes, it's likely a predisposition. As such, it is not a life sentence. And those of us who are depressed, especially those diagnosed as such, really work quite hard at beating it.

It's very rare to find any reputable professional in the field that thinks that a pill, any pill, solves everything. Lifestyle, therapy, diet, supplements, and changing the way one thinks and reacts are all very crucial to 'recovery'. Please don't lump us all as whiny victims.

68 posted on 02/25/2006 9:37:43 AM PST by technochick99 (Firearm of choice: Sig Sauer....)
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To: najida

Thread of interest BUMP!


69 posted on 02/25/2006 9:38:09 AM PST by technochick99 (Firearm of choice: Sig Sauer....)
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To: oxcart

Another explanation (excuse) for selfish and rude behavior.


70 posted on 02/25/2006 9:38:27 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: technochick99

Good post, totally agree.


71 posted on 02/25/2006 9:38:51 AM PST by vimto
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To: Vision

very old theory there, and not true at all.


72 posted on 02/25/2006 9:38:55 AM PST by cajungirl (no)
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To: vimto

I found this on Winds of Change.net of all places linked the other day. It sounded intriguing so I went to the site. If I understand this, the device targets an accentuation of feedback in the nucleus accumbens which I gather is linked to the pleasure center of the brain. I suppose the idea is to reinforce this feedback which I suppose changes the chemistry of the brain region. I would hope this device shows promise.

As for the article, I am not sure how that can be used to help in therapy unless they will target the processing of the transporter gene product by preventing its cleavage.


73 posted on 02/25/2006 9:39:47 AM PST by Frank Sheed ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions." ~GK Chesterton.)
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To: Vision
There is not a depression in the world that cannot be relieved by expressing the withheld anger.

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.

74 posted on 02/25/2006 9:39:50 AM PST by Glenn (There is a looming Tupperware shortage. Plan appropriately.)
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To: Glenn
I don't believe this for a second

Could you say more?

Maybe what he's saying is that he doesn't believe clinical depression is real. People who claim to have it are weak (and probably really dems and/or socialists) and should be thinned from the herd.

Of course it's always the ones who have never suffered from depression, or worse, seen it ruin the life of a loved one, who find it convenient to dismiss. Betcha he's got a bootstrap story of his own. Betcha he doesn't have an empathetic bone in his body.

Of course, I could be wrong.

75 posted on 02/25/2006 9:40:09 AM PST by Bronzewound
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To: toomanygrasshoppers
Thanks for the post and the recommendation of the book - I'll give it a go.

My hero Churchill suffered from the 'black dog'.

Kind regards
76 posted on 02/25/2006 9:40:43 AM PST by vimto
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To: Iris7

The really depressed ones have passed on, my mother in law and her sister. I wish these drugs had been around to make their lives better and the lives of their other family members.


77 posted on 02/25/2006 9:42:18 AM PST by Ditter
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To: vimto

Have you told your doctor about this? If not, you should. My doctor saved my life, my marriage, and my family by helping me with my depression.


78 posted on 02/25/2006 9:43:42 AM PST by Crawdad (So the guy says to the doctor, "It hurts when I do this.")
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To: vimto
But I feel like crap virtually every day.

Get the drugs. They won't make you perfect, but they'll take the doom out of the equation. That's often good enough.

79 posted on 02/25/2006 9:46:30 AM PST by Glenn (There is a looming Tupperware shortage. Plan appropriately.)
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To: butternut_squash_bisque
There are various estimates. The smallest run about about one in twenty. It appears that we are looking at a continuum, a spread spectrum, running from reasonable satisfaction through misery to suicide.

If long lasting depression of increasing severity over the years is a sign of bipolar disorder, as I believe, then we will be seeing a lot of bipolar disorder in coming years as Boomers age.
80 posted on 02/25/2006 9:46:39 AM PST by Iris7 (Dare to be pigheaded! Stubborn! "Tolerance" is not a virtue!)
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