Six subtypes of depression have been classified through the use of brain imaging and machine learningA large step in tackling depression for a lot of people is finding the right medication that works.
In other words, six subtypes have been classified through the use of brain imaging and machine learning.
Besides identifying these biotypes, the study even went a step further to see if targeted treatment could be more effective against three of the biotypes.
The last two biotypes in particular didn’t respond to any medication or therapy and weren’t different in brain scans of the same region in people who weren’t diagnosed with depression.
What it could mean is that there’s a full range of brain biology that these scans have yet to reveal.
Six subtypes of depression have been classified through the use of brain imaging and machine learning
A large step in tackling depression for a lot of people is finding the right medication that works. This can be a complicated process between an individual and their psychiatrist, which can take months or years of trial and error. With the wrong medication, it can feel like a case of ‘one step forward, two steps back.’
However, diagnosing depression may become more precise in the coming years, thanks to groundbreaking research from scientists that has identified six ‘biotypes’ of depression. In other words, six subtypes have been classified through the use of brain imaging and machine learning.
How Depression Shows Itself On Brain Scans
The study was published on the 17th of June in the journal Natural Medicine and primarily set out to find an effective way to get the right treatment for each individual suffering from depression in the first try, rather than taking years of diagnosis.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Leanne Williams highlighted the ineffectuality of current tests saying, “There are currently no tests available to help pinpoint what type of depression (people) have, or, I think especially importantly, what treatment might be most suitable for them.“
The naming convention for these biotypes were largely done on the basis of the severity of the symptoms, behavioural dysfunction and the severity after treatment. Besides identifying these biotypes, the study even went a step further to see if targeted treatment could be more effective against three of the biotypes.
The Different Biotypes And What They Signify
Characterized mainly by hyperactivity, the first biotype made people more likely to be uninterested with life experiences and mismanage their reaction to certain fears. The second biotype was identified by more interconnectivity between brain regions, which manifested itself in errors in executive function which was alleviated by behavioural talk therapy.
Meanwhile, the third biotype had substantially lower activity levels in the brain circuits that manage attention. These individuals typically made more mistakes when it came to tasks that needed long-term attention and found medication to be more effective than therapy.
The fourth biotype was more reactive than the others, being more affected by either their own emotions or inputs from other people. These individuals particularly found difficulties in regulating negative emotions.
The last two biotypes in particular didn’t respond to any medication or therapy and weren’t different in brain scans of the same region in people who weren’t diagnosed with depression. What it could mean is that there’s a full range of brain biology that these scans have yet to reveal.
