Furthermore, the correlation of the expression of P16INK4A and STMN1 with anxiety scores in MDD, and with scores of depression and anxiety in the combined population, raises the possibility that quantification of these gene transcripts in blood leucocytes could be used to explore the dimensional components of the stress load associated with depressive and anxious symptoms in both clinical and community samples. Here, STMN1 is linked to major depressive disorder.