Stanford Medicine-led Research Identifies a Subtype of Depression
June 27, 2023
By Emily Moskal, Stanford Medicine News
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have identified a new subtype of depression — referred to as the “cognitive biotype” — that affects approximately 27% of people with depression. This subtype is often not effectively treated by commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
What Is the Cognitive Biotype of Depression?
Using a combination of surveys, cognitive tests, and brain imaging, researchers found that people with this form of depression experience significant difficulties with cognitive functioning, including:
Planning ahead
Exercising self-control
Sustaining attention despite distractions
Suppressing inappropriate responses
Brain imaging revealed reduced activity in two brain regions responsible for these cognitive functions.
Why This Matters
Depression has traditionally been defined and treated primarily as a mood disorder, which is why SSRIs — medications that target serotonin — are commonly prescribed. However, researchers found that these treatments are often less effective for individuals whose depression is driven by cognitive dysfunction rather than mood symptoms alone.
The study suggests that targeting cognitive impairments directly, either with less commonly used antidepressants or other treatment approaches, may improve symptoms and help people regain social and occupational functioning.
Toward More Personalized Treatment
The study, published on June 15 in JAMA Network Open, is part of a broader effort to move toward biotype-based treatment for depression.
Dr. Leanne Williams, PhD — the study’s senior author and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford — emphasized the importance of moving beyond trial-and-error prescribing:
“One of the big challenges is to find a new way to address what is currently a trial-and-error process so that more people can get better sooner. Bringing in these objective cognitive measures like imaging will make sure we’re not using the same treatment on every patient.”
Learn More
Read the full article:
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/06/depression-subtype.htmlRead the research study (JAMA Network Open):
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2806103