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Discover Magazine’s Nov. 2019 issue highlighted the Depression Grand Challenge’s efforts to understand the genetic and environmental causes of depression with the ultimate goal of developing new and better treatments. The author provided details about the series of studies designed to uncover the genetic and environmental causes of depression.
DGC Executive Committee member Jonathan Flint shared the importance of these studies:
“In a complex condition like depression, there are lots of genetic effects and a lot of environmental contributions. That boundary is very porous and the two interact in different ways,” Flint says. “The genetic component is predisposing you to have bad things happen. If you could get the genetic approach to work, then you’ve got a biological handle on the condition that would really help.”
The article also featured information about the STAND system of care. DGC Director Nelson Freimer was quoted in this section:
“There is now good evidence that psychological therapies delivered over the internet are effective,” says Freimer. “We simply don’t have enough psychiatrists to provide treatment for all the people who need it. We need to employ treatments that are scalable and can treat those who haven’t had access before.”
Read more at Discover Magazine.
