NEWS: Research Finds Genetic Link To Antidepressants

[Guest guest]

University Of California - Los Angeles

Date: 2005-01-03

Research Finds Genetic Link To Antidepressants

Researchers in recent years have been trying to identify genetic factors

predicting a response to antidepressants. Previous studies have found

evidence for the role of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) in

depression. Based on previous findings, researchers have most closely

focused on drugs that target serotonin transports, such as Prozac. None of

these studies, however, focused on specific demographic groups such as

Mexican-Americans or on stress-related genes such as CRH.

Basing their study on 80 depressed Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles, the

researchers found that depressed and highly anxious patients with a variant

of the CRH gene (CRHR1) had a 70 percent greater reduction in anxiety and a

30 percent greater reduction in depression in response to the

anti-depressants Prozac and desipramine than did patients without the gene

variation in question.

The findings for the first time show an association between responses to

specific anti-depressants and a stress-related gene. Physicians have

generally taken a " hit and miss " approach to prescribing anti-depressants.

The findings show promise in helping physicians tailor prescriptions to

specific people.

The lead author was Julio Licinio, professor of psychiatric and

biobehavioral sciences at the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.