Genetic link between depression and panic

By Geoff Michaels, April 21st, 2013 | Health | 0 Comments

Manic depression and panic disorder might be different manifestations of the same underlying disease, say researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

Psychiatric disorders tend to run in families, pointing to a genetic factor. However, the genes involved in mental illness such as depression and schizophrenia have proved elusive - despite many years of research. A team at Johns Hopkins University in the US has discovered an unexpected genetic link between manic depression and panic disorder.

Manic depression - also known as bipolar disorder - is a severe and devastating mental disorder marked by severe mood swings from elation to despair. The researchers looked at 203 families in which at least one member has bipolar disorder. They found that the incidence of panic attacks and panic disorder was much higher than expected among the relatives of those who were affected. It may be, say the researchers, that bipolar disorder and panic disorder are two forms of the same underlying illness. After all, bipolar disorder itself can vary considerably - within the same family, one person may be very ill, another only mildly affected, while another relative may suffer depression only.

This study did not identify the gene - or, more likely, genes - involved in either disorder. But it does take us an important step further on in understanding the biological basis of both manic depression and panic disorder.