Depression, anxiety, and telomere length: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Telomere shortening has been hypothesized to be a marker of premature aging, in particular a marker of cumulative exposure to stress over the life course. Stress is an established cause of depression and anxiety disorders, but to date the literature on the relationship between these conditions and telomere length is mixed. The study objective was to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety and telomere length, and to assess whether this relationship is moderated by antidepressant use in a nationally-representative sample of adults.
Source: Comprehensive Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research