Understanding Vulnerability to Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) starts at an early age and is associated with recurrent episodes. It affects more than 5% of the general population and is associated with significant suicide risk. This lifelong illness significantly impacts the patient and their relatives beyond its economic losses. Although we have different treatment options for MDD, the remission rate is almost 50% in the long term with multiple treatment trials. Therefore, one of the ultimate goals of psychiatry is to identify high-risk individuals and use preventive measures before the pre-disease pathophysiology progresses to illness. Although some studies suggest high-risk individuals for MDD have similar biochemical and neuroimaging findings to individuals with depression, others suggest different patterns of the disease process in high-risk individuals. Focusing on high-risk factors in high-risk populations therefore also allows for the identification of factors that promote resilience to depression in those individuals.

The objective of this Research Topic is to establish a dedicated platform addressing high-risk studies related to major depressive disorders (MDD) and related conditions. Our primary focus is on the exploration and characterization of individuals with high-risk for MDD. We invite contributions in the form of research articles, reviews, and meta-analyses spanning various domains, including epidemiology, neuroimaging, genetics, and related fields. While no tailored treatments currently exist for high-risk groups, our intention is to delve into potential psychotherapeutic interventions.

We warmly welcome original research or review articles from scholars across diverse disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, genetics, epidemiology, and public health. Submissions may encompass:

- Investigating the influence of early life experiences on the risk of developing major depressive disorder.
- Assessing the role of brain structure and function in the development of major depressive disorder.
- Exploring neurochemical imbalances in relation to the development of major depressive disorder.
- Investigating the genetic factors contributing to the development of major depressive disorder.
- Examining psychological factors such as personality traits and coping mechanisms in the context of major depressive disorder development.
- Presenting innovative methodologies for identifying and assessing high-risk groups prone to major depressive disorder.
- Proposing interventions aimed at preventing or delaying the onset of major depressive disorder in high-risk populations.

Topic Editor Dr. Thomas Frodl has received grant funding from Janssen-Cilag. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.