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BIOMARKERS IN PEDIATRIC DEPRESSION
Author(s) -
Rao Uma
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.22171
Subject(s) - boulevard , citation , depression (economics) , center (category theory) , library science , psychology , psychiatry , computer science , history , chemistry , economics , macroeconomics , crystallography , archaeology
Depression is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in youngsters. Elevated risk for the disorder begins in the early teens and continues to rise in a linear fashion throughout adolescence, with lifetime rates estimated to range from 15% to 25% by late adolescence. Numerous studies have documented that early depressive episodes persist or recur into adult life along with ongoing psychosocial difficulties. A better understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of pediatric depression will be helpful in the development and implementation of more effective primary and secondary preventive strategies, thereby allowing such youth to achieve their full potential as adults. There is a general consensus that depression results from complex interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors. Endophenotypes or biomarkers help target the underlying mechanisms. The biomarkers also can be used to strengthen classifications of clinical phenotypes, or to differentiate possible biological subtypes that may, in turn, have different clinical or treatment profiles. In order to better characterize the potential biomarkers associated with pediatric depression, a summary of the literature on adult depression will be provided; in contrast to the wealth of information available in adults, empirical data in youngsters are limited by relatively modest sample sizes in far fewer studies.