Grace Peng

Personalization of Major Depression Disorder treatment using heterogeneity of depression

Started June 15, 2023

Abstract or project description

There have been trends of increased prevalence of depression disorders worldwide, namely after the COVID-19 pandemic. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the one of the most common mental health conditions in the world, as it affects 3.8% of the global population; however, the condition often generalizes the complex manifestation of symptoms of the disorder, which creates a broad definition and diagnosis of MDD. Because of this, depression treatment is often impersonalized and does not accommodate specific patient’s needs. For example, SSRI antidepressants are commonly the first prescribed treatment for depression, but they often do not encompass the heterogeneity of depression. If patients do not respond to first treatment options, they are given a new treatment with the same lack of impersonalization, risking effects such as withdrawal and drug overlap. There are various causes and symptoms of MDD that are influenced by genetics, the environment, and development. By analyzing similarities and differences of MDD biomarkers, risk factors, and treatments of depression, potential directions, such as clinical measures, treatment styles, and future research, can be approached to identify paths to make treatment more personalized.