title: Psychiatric Disorders, Morbidity, and Mortality: Tracing Mechanistic Pathways to Accelerated Aging.
abstract: A meta-analysis published in this issue of Psychosomatic Medicine provides convincing evidence that certain psychiatric populations have shorter telomeres than nonpsychiatric controls, in accord with the strong evidence linking psychiatric disorders with premature mortality. After addressing the clinical significance of shorter telomeres, this editorial describes mechanistic pathways that lead to telomere shortening. Additionally, two other novel methods for measuring biological markers of accelerated aging are briefly discussed: DNA methylation and cellular senescence based on p16. These innovative approaches could be used to confirm and extend our understanding of psychiatric patients' increased health and mortality risks.
authors.affiliation: From the Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research (Kiecolt-Glaser and Wilson) and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health (Kiecolt-Glaser), The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Janice K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kiecolt-Glaser
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D019175:DNA Methylation; D001523:Mental Disorders; D059506:Telomere Shortening