Myoclonus-dystonia syndrome with severe depression is caused by an exon-skipping mutation in the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene.

We describe two affected individuals in a family with myoclonus-dystonia syndrome complicated with severe depression. One individual committed suicide. Molecular genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous point mutation in the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene, which we show leads to skipping of exon 5. This report suggests that the psychiatric spectrum of MDS includes more severe depression.