Brain Markers of Familial Risk for Depression: Steps Toward Clinical Relevance?

An important goal in the field of psychiatry is to identify individuals at risk for major psychopathology, prior to actual onset of disorder. Discovery of risk markers that predict onset of disorder, if they are sensitive and specific, could help in the process of early diagnosis, and ultimately lead to improved early intervention and prevention. This is especially a key aspiration for disorders that take a tremendous toll on health and functioning in both adolescence and adulthood, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.