ABSTRACT
Identifying data-driven subtypes of major depressive disorder (MDD) is an important topic of psychiatric research. Currently, MDD subtypes are based on clinically defined depression symptom patterns. Although a few data-driven attempts have been made to identify more homogenous subgroups within MDD, other studies have not focused on using human genetic data for MDD subtyping. Here we used a computational strategy to identify MDD subtypes based on single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping data from MDD cases and controls using Hamming distance and cluster analysis. We examined a cohort of Mexican-American participants from Los Angeles, including MDD patients (n=203) and healthy controls (n=196). The results in cluster trees indicate that a significant latent subtype exists in the Mexican-American MDD group. The individuals in this hidden subtype have increased common genetic substrates related to major depression and they also have more anxiety and less middle insomnia, depersonalization and derealisation, and paranoid symptoms. Advances in this line of research to validate this strategy in other patient groups of different ethnicities will have the potential to eventually be translated to clinical practice, with the tantalising possibility that in the future it may be possible to refine MDD diagnosis based on genetic data.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder, Major/genetics , Exome/genetics , Mexican Americans/genetics , Adult , Aged , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/ethnology , Anxiety Disorders/genetics , Cluster Analysis , Depersonalization/diagnosis , Depersonalization/ethnology , Depersonalization/genetics , Depressive Disorder, Major/classification , Female , Genotype , Humans , Los Angeles/ethnology , Male , Middle Aged , Paranoid Behavior/diagnosis , Paranoid Behavior/ethnology , Paranoid Behavior/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/ethnology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/genetics , Young AdultABSTRACT
This article examines the endorsement of conspiracy beliefs about birth control (e.g., the belief that birth control is a form of Black genocide) and their association with contraceptive attitudes and behavior among African Americans. The authors conducted a telephone survey with a random sample of 500 African Americans (aged 15-44). Many respondents endorsed birth control conspiracy beliefs, including conspiracy beliefs about Black genocide and the safety of contraceptive methods. Stronger conspiracy beliefs predicted more negative attitudes toward contraceptives. In addition, men with stronger contraceptive safety conspiracy beliefs were less likely to be currently using any birth control. Among current birth control users, women with stronger contraceptive safety conspiracy beliefs were less likely to be using contraceptive methods that must be obtained from a health care provider. Results suggest that conspiracy beliefs are a barrier to pregnancy prevention. Findings point to the need for addressing conspiracy beliefs in public health practice.
