Personalization of Major Depression Disorder treatment using heterogeneity of depression

Project by Polygence alum Grace

Personalization of Major Depression Disorder treatment using heterogeneity of depression

Project's result

Literature Review, Symposium Conference

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Summary

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.

Tyler

Tyler

Polygence mentor

PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate

Subjects

Psychology, Neuroscience

Expertise

Alzheimer's disease, aging, Autism Spectrum disorder, neurological disorders, human neuroimaging, cognition

Grace

Grace

Student

Graduation Year

2025

Project review

“While working on my project, there were much more factors to consider than I initially thought. I was able to work on various skills, such as knowing how to write academically, analyze arguments, and sort through literature. It was fun getting to dive deeper into a topic I was interested in and see the different subtopics within it. Overall, it was a great experience to learn from.”

About my mentor

“Throughout my project, my mentor, Tyler Toueg, was an incredible and supportive mentor. He guided me through the process of constructing my research project and taught me many valuable skills that I continue to use in school and for other projects. He also answered all of my questions and provided great feedback when writing my paper.”