Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41303496›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Genetics and Neurobiology of Treatment-Resistant Depression-A Review.

Olga Płaza, Piotr Gałecki, Katarzyna Bliźniewska-Kowalska, Małgorzata Gałecka, Agnieszka Brońska, Jan Płaza, Amelia Szurek, Agata Szulc

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

8 authors.

Olga PłazaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 05-802 Pruszków, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-5571-2660
Piotr GałeckiDepartment of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Łódź, 91-229 Łódź, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-2447-5636
Katarzyna Bliźniewska-KowalskaDepartment of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Łódź, 91-229 Łódź, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-9779-7057
Małgorzata GałeckaDepartment of Psychotherapy, Medical University of Łódź, 91-229 Łódź, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-4312-5255
Agnieszka BrońskaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 05-802 Pruszków, Poland.
Jan PłazaStudents Scientific Association at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 05-802 Pruszków, Poland.
Amelia SzurekStudents Scientific Association at the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 05-802 Pruszków, Poland.
Agata SzulcDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, 05-802 Pruszków, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), defined as the failure to achieve adequate response to at least two antidepressant trials, affects 20-30% of patients with major depressive disorder and poses substantial personal and socioeconomic burdens. This review aimed to synthesize current knowledge on the genetic, epigenetic, and neurobiological underpinnings of TRD to understand its pathophysiology better and inform future treatment strategies. A systematic search identified relevant studies focusing on genetic predispositions, epigenetic modifications, structural and functional brain alterations, the role of chronic inflammation, and deficits in neuroplasticity and neurogenesis associated with TRD. Findings highlight the involvement of polymorphisms in genes regulating neurotransmission, neuroplasticity, and stress response, though replication across studies remains inconsistent. Genome-wide association studies suggest polygenic contributions but are limited by small sample sizes and heterogeneous definitions of TRD. Emerging evidence points to aberrant DNA methylation, histone modifications, and dysregulated non-coding RNAs as potential mediators of treatment resistance. Neuroimaging studies reveal TRD-specific patterns, particularly altered default mode network connectivity and white matter disruptions, supporting its distinction as a subtype of depression. Collectively, the evidence underscores TRD as a multifactorial condition shaped by genetic and neurobiological factors, while emphasizing the need for standardized definitions, larger cohorts, and longitudinal designs to advance the field.

Indexed as

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-ResistantMajor Depressive DisorderAnimalsAntidepressive AgentsBrainDNA MethylationEpigenesis, GeneticGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansNeuronal PlasticityAntidepressive Agentschronic inflammationepigenetic modificationsmajor depressive disorderneuroanatomyneurogenesis disfunctionneuroimagingpharmacogenomicstreatment-resistant depression

Identifiers

PMID41303496
PMCPMC12652472

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.