The News
Study seeks to ID depression genes
STANFORD, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they might be close to identifying the gene or genes responsible for causing severe depression.
The Stanford University School of Medicine researchers say some people appear to be genetically predisposed to developing severe depression, but scientists have yet to identify the genes responsible.
Now Dr. Douglas Levinson, a professor of psychiatry, is leading a consortium of researchers in identifying a specific region rife with promise.
"This finding has a very good chance of leading to a discovery of a gene that could yield important information about why some people develop depression," said Levinson.
If problematic genetic variations could be identified, it would open the door to a whole new world of investigation, and eventually, treatment possibilities, he said.

The Research
Read the articles behind this story in the journal American Journal of Psychiatry
Homing in on depression genes.
Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Major Depression (GenRED): Final Genome Scan Report.
Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Major Depression (GenRED): Significant Linkage on Chromosome 15q25-q26 After Fine Mapping With Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers.