The system’s genetics of depression and its somatic and mental comorbidities

Abstract

Depression is a common mood disorder characterised by high comorbidity with other mental and somatic diseases. New studies reveal a shared genetic base for mental core symptoms and somatic comorbidities. Functional analyses showed multiple brain–body pathways involved. This may help considering new therapeutic approaches for depression as a system’s disorder.

Keywords

• major depressive disorder
• comorbidities
• shared genetic mechanisms
• somatic diseases
• mental disorders