Research and treatment approaches to depression

Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide, but we know little abo ut the underlying fundamental biology. Research its hindered by the difficu lties of modelling a disorder of higher cognitive functions in animals. Dep ression can be understood as the interaction of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors; however, current classifications are purely descript ive. The complexity of this field is best approached by rigorous exploratio ns of known candidate systems in conjunction with the use of genomic: tools to discover new targets for antidepressants and to predict therapeutic out comes.