In this video, Professor Dr. Brenda Penninx discusses the heterogeneity of major depressive disorder, with specific reference to immunometabolic depression. Major depressive disorder is a highly prevalent but heterogeneous condition, with different underlying causes, symptom profiles, and pathophysiology.
Immunometabolic depression, a subtype affecting 20–30% of patients, is characterised by symptoms like hypersomnia, increased appetite, and fatigue. Research suggests that these symptoms are driven by systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, pointing to the potential of targeted treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle interventions.
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent psychiatric condition with significant individual and socio-economic burden. Despite the broad availability of numerous effective therapeutic interventions, up to 30% of patients fail to achieve adequate symptom relief and are classified as having treatment-resistant depression (TRD). TRD represents a significant clinical challenge, affecting approximately 30% of individuals with MDD who fail to respond to at least two adequate antidepressant trials.
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