Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26688493›Full record

SynthesisJournal of affective disorders2016

Depression and telomere length: A meta-analysis.

Kathryn K Ridout, Samuel J Ridout, Lawrence H Price, Srijan Sen, Audrey R Tyrka

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of affective disorders, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 137 papers, 21 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
137citing papers in PubMed, 21 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

137 citing papers in PubMed, 21 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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77 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Kathryn K RidoutMood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. Electronic address: Kathryn_Ridout@Brown.edu.
Samuel J RidoutMood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Lawrence H PriceMood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Srijan SenMolecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Audrey R TyrkaMood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

Funding

Mobile Technology to Identify Behavorial Mechanisms Linking Genetic Variation and DepressionR01MH101459 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI SEN, SRIJAN · 2013 to 2023
$6.4M
Promoting Research Training During Psychiatry ResidencyR25MH101076 · NIMH · BROWN UNIVERSITY · PI AUDREY TYRKA · 2013 to 2026
$2.8M
Childhood Maltreatment:Biomarkers of Risk and ResilienceR01MH083704 · NIMH · BUTLER HOSPITAL (PROVIDENCE, RI) · PI TYRKA, AUDREY · 2010 to 2014
$2.6M
NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH083704NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH101459NIMH NIH HHS R25 MH101076
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSeveral recent studies have investigated the relationship between telomere length and depression with inconsistent results. This meta-analysis examined whether telomere length and depression are associated and explored factors that might affect this association.

methodsStudies measuring telomere length in subjects with clinically significant unipolar depression were included. A comprehensive search strategy identified studies in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Global Health, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. A structured data abstraction form was used and studies were appraised for inclusion or exclusion using a priori conditions. Analyses were conducted using standardized mean differences in a continuous random effects model.

resultsThirty-eight studies (N=34,347) met the inclusion criteria. The association between depression and telomere length was significant, with a Cohen's d effect size of -0.205 (p<0.0001, I(2)=42%). Depression severity significantly associated with telomere length (p=0.03). Trim and fill analysis indicated the presence of publication bias (p=0.003), but that the association remained highly significant after accounting for the bias. Subgroup analysis revealed depression assessment tools, telomere measurement techniques, source tissue and comorbid medical conditions significantly affected the relationship. LIMITATIONS: Other potentially important sub-groups, including antidepressant use, have not been investigated in sufficient detail or number yet and thus were not addressed in this meta-analysis.

conclusionsThere is a negative association between depression and telomere length. Further studies are needed to clarify potential causality underlying this association and to elucidate the biology linking depression and this cellular marker of stress exposure and aging.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildDepressionDepressive DisorderFemaleGenetic TechniquesHumansMaleMiddle AgedTelomereYoung AdultDepressionMajor depressive disorderMeta-analysisTelomere

Identifiers

PMID26688493
PMCPMC4760624

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.