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The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
05:42

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Published on: March 2, 2015

Using a cognitive endophenotype to identify risk genes for depression.

Gerald J Haeffel1, Maria Eastman, Elena L Grigorenko

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, United States. ghaeffel@nd.edu

Neuroscience Letters
|January 14, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The BDNF Val(66) genotype is linked to higher cognitive vulnerability and increased depression risk under stress, suggesting it

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Cognitive vulnerability is a key factor in hopelessness theory of depression.
  • Genetic factors may influence individual differences in cognitive vulnerability and depression risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the BDNF and COMT genes as potential genetic contributors to cognitive vulnerability.
  • To investigate the role of cognitive vulnerability as a novel endophenotype for depression.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed cognitive vulnerability and depressive symptoms in 95 individuals.
  • Genotyped the BDNF and COMT genes to examine associations with cognitive vulnerability and depression.
  • Analyzed the interaction between genotypes, cognitive vulnerability, and stress on depressive symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with the BDNF Val(66) genotype exhibited significantly higher cognitive vulnerability than those with the Met(66) genotype.
  • The BDNF Val(66) genotype was associated with a greater likelihood of increased depressive symptoms under stress, particularly in those with high cognitive vulnerability.
  • No significant association was found between the COMT gene and cognitive vulnerability or depression risk.

Conclusions:

  • The cognitive vulnerability factor from hopelessness theory can be considered a valid endophenotype for depression.
  • The BDNF gene, specifically the Val(66) genotype, plays a role in a cognitive subtype of depression.
  • The COMT gene does not appear to be associated with cognitive vulnerability or depression in this cohort.