Scientists discover 30 new genes linked to depression

To date, 30 new genes linked to depression have been found.

A study of nearly half-a-million people has uncovered 30 new genes linked to depression, tripling the number known to play a role in the debilitating disease. The same enlarged basket of depression genes also underpins other psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

"This is a game changer," said Patrick Sullivan, director of the Center for Psychiatric Genomics at the University of North Carolina and co-leader of the research. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, provide targets for new drugs and other forms of treatment.