#35 Dr. Husseini Manji Discusses Innovative Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

Husseini Manji, M.D., FRCPC is the Global Therapeutic Head of Neuroscience at Janssen Research and Development, LLC, one of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Manji is also a Visiting Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Manji was previously Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology & Experimental Therapeutics at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Director of the NIH Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, the largest program of its kind in the world. Dr. Manji has received a number of prestigious awards, including the National Institute of Mental Health Director's Career Award for Significant Scientific Achievement, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Klerman Senior Distinguished Researcher Award, the PhRMA’s Research & Hope Award for Excellence in Biopharmaceutical Research and has been recognized as one of 14 inaugural “Health Heroes” by Oprah magazine. Dr. Manji has published extensively on the molecular and cellular neurobiology of severe neuropsychiatric disorders and the development of novel therapeutics, with over 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and is the author of Bipolar Depression, Molecular Neurobiology, Clinical Diagnosis, and Pharmacotherapy which is currently in its second edition. Major Depressive Disorder includes depressed mood or loss of interest in activities that used to bring pleasure. In addition to feelings like dread or apathy, anger or remorse, many people suffering with depression also experience physical symptoms such as problems with eating, sleeping, mustering energy, and concentrating. Some medical conditions can also cause depressive symptoms, so considering possible underlying medical problems is important. Depression is a very common disorder, as many as one in six people experience depressive symptoms in their lifetime. Depression is differentiated from sadness and grief by the severity and duration of depressive symptoms. It is important for anyone experiencing a Depressive Disorder to seek help from a licensed clinician to be evaluated for safety.