Biomarkers for depression: recent insights, current challenges and future prospects

Summary & key facts

Researchers reviewed many studies that have suggested hundreds of biological signs, called biomarkers, that might be linked to depression. Right now we do not know which of these signs are truly important for which people. The research points to inflammation, brain growth factors, metabolism, and chemical and hormonal brain systems as promising areas to study. New, careful and larger research is needed before these signs can help doctors choose or predict treatments. This work could one day help make care for depression more personalized, but it is not ready for use yet.

Key facts:

• Scientists have found hundreds of possible biological signs, called biomarkers, that might relate to depression.
• Researchers do not yet understand the roles of these biomarkers or which ones are abnormal in which people with depression.
• Part of the problem is that depression itself is very mixed and studies use many different methods, which makes results hard to compare.
• Promising types of biomarkers include those tied to inflammation, brain growth and support systems, metabolic processes, brain chemicals, and hormonal systems.
• These biomarkers can be measured in many ways, such as studying genes and how they are switched on or off, patterns of gene activity, proteins and small molecules in the body, and brain scans.
• The authors say we need new, systematic research programs to test whether some biomarkers can predict who will respond to a treatment, help assign people to the best treatment, or point to new treatment targets.
• The review concludes that there is real hope that better biomarker research could reduce the burden of depression in the future, but current evidence is not strong enough to change clinical care yet.

Abstract

Abstract: A plethora of research has implicated hundreds of putative biomarkers for depression, but has not yet fully elucidated their roles in depressive illness or established what is abnormal in which patients and how biologic information can be used to enhance diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This lack of progress is partially due to the nature and heterogeneity of depression, in conjunction with methodological heterogeneity within the research literature and the large array of biomarkers with potential, the expression of which often varies according to many factors. We review the available literature, which indicates that markers involved in inflammatory, neurotrophic and metabolic processes, as well as neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine system components, represent highly promising candidates. These may be measured through genetic and epigenetic, transcriptomic and proteomic, metabolomic and neuroimaging assessments. The use of novel approaches and systematic research programs is now required to determine whether, and which, biomarkers can be used to predict response to treatment, stratify patients to specific treatments and develop targets for new interventions. We conclude that there is much promise for reducing the burden of depression through further developing and expanding these research avenues. Keywords: mood disorder, major depressive disorder, inflammation, treatment response, stratification, personalized medicine

Topics

Stress Responses and Cortisol Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

Categories

Biological Psychiatry Life Sciences Neuroscience

Tags

Biochemistry Bioinformatics Biology Biomarker Depression (economics) Dopamine Economics Epigenetics Gene Internal medicine Macroeconomics Major depressive disorder Medicine Mood Neuroimaging Neuroscience Neurotransmitter systems Pathology Personalized medicine Precision medicine Psychiatry Psychological intervention Psychology

Conditions & symptoms

Depression Lack of energy or motivation Poor sleep Sadness or low mood