Project Summary

Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2000) of Virginia Commonwealth University, is conducting a pilot study aimed at clarifying the role of environmental risk factors in major depression.  This study utilizes identical twins discordant for major depression (i.e. one member of the twin pair has major depression, the other does not) in a longitudinal study of over 1000 pairs of twins from a defined registry.  This strategy has power for detecting unique environmental risk factors because both twins are matched both for their genetic and their familial-environmental background.  In-depth life event history interviews will be conducted on environmental risk factors; developmental histories will be acquired on living mothers; and pilot hormonal and imaging studies will be obtained on a small subset of these twins for feasibility testing.  This work may lead to a major study on this sample, aimed at elucidating further the role of environmental risk factors and their interactions with genetic factors in the cause of major depression.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)

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