Depression can be actually seen in your brain, but it often looks differently in different brains.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness that affects many people, but it's not the same for everyone.
Researchers are trying to understand different types of depression to develop better treatments.
Studying brains and depression
A new study in Biological Psychiatry found these types using brain imaging.
They used brain scans from over 1,000 people with MDD and 1,000 healthy people.
They looked at how different parts of the brain work together and compared it to what's normal. This helped them find two types of MDD.
One type had more brain connections in some areas and fewer in others.
The second type had a milder version of this pattern. This shows that depression isn't the same for everyone, even in their brains.
This research is exciting because it might help find markers in the brain for depression.
Right now, doctors rely on what patients say to diagnose and treat depression.
Why it's important
These brain markers could make treatment more personalized for each person.
Jne of the researchers said this research could change how we treat mental health.
It might help doctors personalize treatments based on a person's unique brain patterns, which could make depression treatment better.
