New Study Reveals How Childhood Trauma Triggers Depression Through Brain Chemical SGK1

New York, November 2025:
A groundbreaking study by neuroscientists from Columbia University and McGill University has uncovered a critical link between childhood trauma and adult depression, identifying a brain chemical called SGK1 as the missing biological connection.

Researchers found that people who experienced early-life adversity — such as abuse or neglect — often have higher levels of SGK1, a stress-related protein. Elevated SGK1 levels were also discovered in the brains of suicide victims, suggesting that this chemical plays a major role in driving both depression and suicidal thoughts.

A New Target for Antidepressant Treatment

The study’s lead author, Dr. Christoph Anacker, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurobiology at Columbia University, says the discovery could transform depression treatment.

“Current antidepressants are often less effective for people with a history of childhood adversity,” Dr. Anacker explained. “What’s exciting about our study is that SGK1 inhibitors already exist for other diseases — meaning new treatments for depression could be developed much faster.”

In experiments with mice, blocking SGK1 activity helped prevent depression-like behaviors caused by chronic stress. Researchers believe this opens the door to a new generation of antidepressants specifically for trauma-affected patients who don’t respond to traditional SSRIs.

How Early Trauma Alters the Brain

Childhood trauma — including physical or emotional abuse and growing up in dysfunctional environments — is one of the strongest predictors of adult depression.
Studies estimate that 60% of adults diagnosed with major depression and nearly two-thirds of suicide attempts involve individuals who endured early-life adversity.

Dr. Anacker’s team had first noted abnormal SGK1 levels a decade ago in patients with untreated depression. The new research strengthens the link by showing that people with certain genetic variants that increase SGK1 production are more likely to develop depression as teenagers if they experienced trauma early in life.

Next Steps: From Lab to Life-Saving Therapy

The researchers are now working toward clinical trials to test SGK1 inhibitors in humans suffering from depression linked to early trauma. These drugs are already being evaluated for other conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, which could accelerate approval timelines.

Genetic screening may also help identify individuals who would benefit most from SGK1-targeted therapies.

“There’s an urgent need to treat people at the highest risk of depression and suicide after early trauma,” Anacker said. “SGK1 gives us a promising new direction.”

About the Study

The research, titled “Hippocampal SGK1 Promotes Vulnerability to Depression: The Role of Early Life Adversity, Stress, and Genetic Risk”, was published in Molecular Psychiatry.
The international research team included scientists from Columbia University, McGill University, Dartmouth College, and the Karolinska Institute.
Funding was provided by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) and the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry.