A recent study has led scientists to discover a gene which may help explain the cause of mental disorders including depression and schizophrenia. The gene, called ABCA13, is being primarily help responsible, and the discovery might lead to a whole new way of treating these disorders.

As per the research, the aforementioned gene is "partially inactive" in patients who suffer from severe psychological disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The gene's identification, researchers believe, might just lead to a new treatment method, as well as "open up a whole new area of biology".

Led by the University of Edinburgh, an international team of researchers, studied the gene makeover of over 2,000 patients with severe psychological disturbances and compared them to those of 2,000 healthy people. Analysis of data collected helped the scientists confirm the study's hypothesis.

"This is an exciting step forward in our understanding of the underlying causes of some common mental illnesses. These risk genes could signpost new directions for treatments", said Douglas Blackwood, the university's Psychiatric Genetics Professor.

The study, which ran for a total of 5 years and involved patients from Scotland, has been published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.