Grant: Project Grant

Depression and social anxiety frequently co-occur: individuals with social anxiety are four times more likely to develop depression, and social anxiety is among the most common disorders among individuals with depression. Persons with co-occurring depression and social anxiety report higher levels of suffering, greater impairment in social and occupational functioning, and higher risk of suicide. Despite the high prevalence and costs of co-occurring depression and social anxiety, we know little about the peripheral biology that characterizes co-occurring depression-social anxiety. Characterizing the peripheral biology is central to understanding the underlying mechanisms and to informing treatment decisions. However, the majority of research examining the peripheral biology of depression and social anxiety either overlooks co-occurring depression-social anxiety or excludes it entirely. In the current study, we will characterize, for the first time, the peripheral biology of pure depression, pure social anxiety, and co-occurring depression-social anxiety using both dichotomous and dimensional conceptualizations of psychopathology. Moreover, we will examine how markers of peripheral biology predict the course of symptoms over the following year. Through the proposed research, we hope to inform etiological models and treatment decisions for pure and co-occurring depression and social anxiety.