**9.3. AVP and female human female depression and anxiety**

Much of the research on this topic is focused on the interaction between stress, AVP, and depression. Specific V1b receptor haplotypes are associated with protection against recurrent major depression in both males and females [193]. A more recent study has found the association between V1b gene variants, AVP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP's), and vulnerability to childhood onset depression in females [206, 207]. In a study of male and female depression patients, plasma AVP was highly correlated with depression in nontreated patients, but this correlation was not found in patients taking anti-depressants [191]. These studies suggest that the central AVP system is a valid target for treatments for depression and anxiety.
