Depression and suicidality are major public health concerns, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. A variety of blood markers, including blood markers related to inflammation or certain body organs (such as the liver), have been associated with depression or suicidality (e.g., bilirubin or C-reactive protein). Similarly, different brain structures have been associated with depression or suicidality. However, it remains unclear in which patient populations such associations are most relevant, or if blood markers or other factors change the strength of the these associations. It is also unclear if blood markers might contribute to changes in brain markers, which might then contribute to depression or suicidality. Lastly, different choices of ways to analyze data (for example, excluding outliers) may affect results.
Our study aims will be to utilize the UK Biobank dataset to investigate which blood markers affect depression/suicidality and brain imaging markers amongst potentially different populations, and also if the pathways between blood markers and depression/suicidality are related to brain imaging markers. We will also make sure that identified associations are not significantly affected by choice of analytic decisions. The public health impact will be identification of which blood markers might affect depression/suicidality and how these effects might happen, which would lead to potentially better treatments for depression.
