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Genetic and non-genetic subtypes of major depressive disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Martin Andrew ,
Peter McGuffin  and
Randy Katz
Martin Andrew
Affiliation:
University of Wales, College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff
Peter McGuffin*
Affiliation:
University of Wales, College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff
Randy Katz
Affiliation:
Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
Professor P. McGuffin, Centre for Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research, Institute of Psychiatry, 111 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

Background

We aimed to examine the hypotheses that major depression is aetiologically heterogeneous consisting of a mixture of ‘genetic’ and ‘non-genetic’ forms or, alternatively, a mixture of one form that is ‘pure’ depression and another that has a familial relationship with alcohol dependency or other disorders.

Method

One hundred and eleven twin pairs (44 monozygotic, 67 dizygotic) where the proband had received treatment for DSM–IV major depression were ascertained via a hospital register. Family history information on parents and siblings was obtained from the proband, co-twin or both. Diagnoses on parents and siblings were made blind to twin zygosity or concordance and compared in the relatives of concordant versus discordant twins.

Results

The lifetime prevalence and age-corrected risk of depression were no different in the relatives of concordant and discordant twin pairs. There was a marginally significant increase in the rate of alcohol abuse or dependence among the relatives of concordant twins but no difference between concordant and discordant pairs in respect of other axis I diagnosis among family members.

Conclusions

The results argue against genetic heterogeneity and suggest that major depression cannot usefully be divided into genetic and non-genetic forms or into ‘pure’ depression and depression associated with other disorders such as alcohol dependency.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 6 , December 1998 , pp. 523 - 526
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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