Biological Markers of Depression

Over the last decade a growing number of research groups have focussed their interest on potential neuroendocrine and neurophysiological markers of depression, with very successful results. The debate on the actual usefulness of these biological parameters in the everyday diagnosis and treatment of depressive patients continues however. The 100th anniversary of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Liege presented a timely opportunity to critically review the extensive literature now available on biological markers of depression. The four most widely used biological tests of depression were individually reviewed in a specific symposium by renowned international experts: dexamethasone suppression test (DST), sleep EEG, clonidine test, and endogenous evoked potentials. The philosophy of each of those symposia was threefold: first to critically assess the actual usefulness of each of those types of parameters for diagnostic confirmation and treatment prediction in depressive disorders; second, to discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for such distsurbances; and third, to discuss new prospects in the field.
Finally, another symposium reviewed the most promising antidepressants currently under development. This book presents the findings of the symposium held in Liege, with a short summary of the contents as outlined hereunder.
 
Over the last decade a growing number of research groups have focussed their interest on potential neuroendocrine and neurophysiological markers of depression, with very successful results. The debate on the actual usefulness of these biological parameters in the everyday diagnosis and treatment of depressive patients continues however. The 100th anniversary of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Liege presented a timely opportunity to critically review the extensive literature now available on biological markers of depression. The four most widely used biological tests of depression were individually reviewed in a specific symposium by renowned international experts: dexamethasone suppression test (DST), sleep EEG, clonidine test, and endogenous evoked potentials. The philosophy of each of those symposia was threefold: first to critically assess the actual usefulness of each of those types of parameters for diagnostic confirmation and treatment prediction in depressive disorders; second, to discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for such distsurbances; and third, to discuss new prospects in the field.
Finally, another symposium reviewed the most promising antidepressants currently under development. This book presents the findings of the symposium held in Liege, with a short summary of the contents as outlined hereunder.