IMOP -- They are always finding new genes for this, that, and the other thing...and now that time has gone by in this relatively new field of study, sometimes they are also recanting their findings.
In the case of a specific disease that has only one cause, like cycle cell anemia, it is more easily attributable if a specific gene is found to cause it.

But in the case of depression, bipolar, and even diseases like diabetes, there are many factors that may contribute or cause the diseases, and the findings of a specific gene that is entirely responsible is not so clear cut.

In the case of depression, I believe there are two main reasons why it occurs:

situational, (nurture) and biophysiological (nature). Because some people can experience the same trauma and one will come through it unscathed while another will be debilitated, I surmise that some degree of genetic proneness is there to begin with.

Conversely, if an otherwise healthy individual suffers undue, especially repetative, stress at an early age, such as many surgeries or abuse, or chronic illness, I also believe that depression can be caused by that as well.

ppl are always saying stuff like this tho, someone has some new idea....the brain is so complex, it takes doctors and scientists years and years to figure out what works and theyre not even close to it yet. when you are taking an anti depressant a doctor is just trying it out on you to see what needs to be done even further. they havent gotten there yet.

All my family is mental or/and depressed.Makes sense xx

interesting article.....it will be interesting to see what type of meds will come out of this research

Barden N.
Addresse(s) Neuroscience, CHUL Research Centre, Ste-Foy, Canada

In keeping with a role of P2RX7 in the aetiology of mood disorders, both antidepressant agents and mood stabilizers modify its expression.

I'm with the wabbit.......

I believe there is a gene of some sort responsible for depression; however, something must trigger it in certain people.

Just dont think there is a simple explanation for any of it.

I hope they find a cure or prevention for it in the future. However, I have had to so long now, even if they cured it, I would have to unlearn some of my survival skills. We would kind of have to start over as a blank slate and learn how to deal effectively with others.

So, cause, treatment and cure is never going to be as simple as take two asprin and call me in the morning.
In essence, I guess it is both nature and nuture.

well that sucks... to have this AND the fat gene, LOL

LOL!! Mars....

I agree, zaza.

Seratonin is what controls our sleep patterns and not depression. Medicine helps many people and most are not containing seratonin, or influencing seratonin levels. Therefor one can conclude that depression is caused by other factors. However...That said...Lack of sleep can make some people more depressed than they would be otherwise. Therefor seratonin can have in some cases an indirect affect on certain cases of depression.

I've been thinking... so, this gene has nothing to do with seratonin, but I don't think that we should jump to the conclusion of seratonin being a myth based on this copy/paste from there:

"What is particularly exciting is that P2RX7 has nothing to do with serotonin, said Professor Barden. Drugs that boost the flow of serotonin can be effective anti-depressants, but take weeks to take effect. The fact that P2RX7 that has nothing to do with serotonin could partly explain why."

Read something else about boosting seratonin bypassing the gene, etc.

In my thinking, I remembered a car I had that I knew it was a quart low on oil when the heater blew cool and one would usually think oh, better check the antifreeze level. Different fluid systems somehow connected. I'm not an auto mechanic.

Anyway, I don't think seratonin is a myth... I think depression is like a jigsaw puzzle... seratonin is one piece... this gene might be the entire border.

But it does yield hope for folks who do not respond well to SSRIs... or even effexor, an SNRI (that selects a big N word chemical to block the re-uptake instead of seratonin)and that is really good thing.

So if anyone is suicidal that today's meds don't help, it would be ironic to off yourself with this research going on... they tested this theory, the next step is a med for humans, a miracle drug is on the horizon.

I totally believe that! Why else would taking 13 different meds in 10 years do NOTHING for me?

also...remember that a genetic TRAIT, is not a genetic CERTAINTY. 2 brown eyed people can have a blue eyed child...even tho brown gene is dominate. i think having a recessive genetic propensity...added to emotional trauma...can kick start depression.

genetic research holds many, many new ways of dealing with our bodies and brains. it's very exciting. :)

and even with all the research being done...we've only a tiny fraction of knowledge about how our brain truly "works"

Some may be receiving benefits due to a placebo effect which has been the case for others meds. I don't recall any double blind studies on antidepressants.

The other thing that I noted in my reading is that all depressions are lumped together and treated as the same thing. There is another article that distinquishes on type of depression.

For example, bipolar depression, unipolar depression, schiophrenic depression and so on. Some people may not be receiving help with regular meds depending on the type of depression being treated.

there is more to it than placebo... I've been on a med that works in the brain... I cannot take my SSRI while on this because this med also "blocks the reuptake of seratonin" along with 2 other brain chemicals but has NO antidepressant effect. I agree with JaneDoe on this one... there is a lot more going on with our brains than scientist have even begun to understand.