• Depression's distinctive fingerprints in the brain | Leanne Williams, Stanford University

  • Aug 29 2024
  • Length: 28 mins
  • Podcast

Depression's distinctive fingerprints in the brain | Leanne Williams, Stanford University

  • Summary

  • Getting help for depression can be like purgatory. Setting aside for a moment the stigma and other barriers to seeking treatment in the first place, finding the right combination of medication and/or therapy can be a months- or years-long process of trial and error. And for about one third of people, nothing seems to work.

    Today we're talking with Dr. Leanne Williams, the founding director of the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness and Vincent V.C. Woo Professor in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

    Williams and her team have recently used brain imaging and machine learning techniques to identify six distinct "biotypes" of depression — each of which may require a different approach to treatment. Beyond setting the stage for more targeted therapies, better understanding the biology behind the disease could finally cut through the stigma of one of the world's most common brain disorders.

    Learn more

    • Williams' Personalized and Translational Neuroscience Lab (PANlab)
    • The Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness
    • NEW: Cognitive behavioral therapy enhances brain circuits to relieve depression (Stanford Medicine, 2024)
    • Six distinct types of depression identified in Stanford Medicine-led study
      (Stanford Medicine, 2024)
      • Personalized brain circuit scores identify clinically distinct biotypes in depression and anxiety (Nature Medicine, 2024)
    • Brain scans could help personalize treatment for people who are depressed or suicidal (Science, 2022)
    • Williams' scientific publications

    Episode Credits
    This episode was produced by Michael Osborne, with production assistance by Morgan Honaker, and hosted by Nicholas Weiler. Art by Aimee Garza.


    Send us a text!

    Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying our show, please take a moment to give us a review on your podcast app of choice and share this episode with your friends. That's how we grow as a show and bring the stories of the frontiers of neuroscience to a wider audience.

    Learn more about the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

    Show more Show less
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Depression's distinctive fingerprints in the brain | Leanne Williams, Stanford University

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.