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Does Depression Run In Families

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Does Sad Vary From Other Types Of Depression

Why does depression run in families?

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Common Genetic Factors Found In 5 Mental Disorders

Major mental disorders traditionally thought to be distinct share certain genetic glitches, according to a new study. The finding may point to better ways to diagnose and treat these conditions.

Scientists have long recognized that many psychiatric disorders tend to run in families, suggesting potential genetic roots. Such disorders include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia. Symptoms can overlap and so distinguishing among these 5 major psychiatric syndromes can be difficult. Their shared symptoms suggest they may also share similarities at the biological level. In fact, recent studies have turned up limited evidence of shared genetic risk factors, such as for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, autism and schizophrenia, and depression and bipolar disorder.

To take a broader look, an international research consortium conducted an analysis that incorporated data from genome-wide association studies of the 5 major disorders. This type of study involves scanning through thousands of genetic markers in search of tiny variations that appear more often in people who have a particular condition than in those who don’t. The research received primary funding from NIHs National Institute of Mental Health , along with other NIH components.

Depression Is Vexing In No Short Part Because Doctors Are Themselves Confused About The Exact Causes But Science Hasn’t Let Us Down Completely Learn What’s Been Proven To Be A Factor And What Might Beunderstanding The Triggers Will Help You Get The Best Treatment

by Health Writer

If anybody tells you that they know definitively what causes depressionit doesnt matter if theyre a medical professional, a well-meaning friend, or someone selling essential oils on social mediathat person doesnt know what theyre talking about. One thing we do know: Depression is not a choice and it has exactly zero to do with being weak-willed or lazy. Here, well dive into what happens in your brainand what triggers those brain changesthat can lead to the deep sadness of having depression. By understanding these factors, you can stop blaming yourself or trying to will yourself happy and, instead start showing yourself the empathy a friend wouldan important part of the journey of feeling better.

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What Should I Consider If I Want To Start A Family

If you have a mental illness, and youre thinking of starting a family, you could talk to a professional genetics counsellor.

Genetic counsellors work directly with patients and families. They can give specialist advice and information to people who have relatives with certain health conditions.

If you want to speak to a genetic counsellor, you will need to be referred by a doctor. So, you should speak to your GP or psychiatrist.

Family History Of Depression

Hereditary Depression: Does it Run in Your Family ...

Your risk for developing MDD is higher if members of your family have been depressed. But, much like if your family is comprised of Mensa members or ukulele masters, its difficult to tell how much of that is due to genetics and how much is due to environmental factors .

There is no single gene for depression. A British research team studied more than 800 families with recurrent depression and isolated a chromosome called 3p25-26 that looks promising as a possible genetic link. But another recent British study examined associations between 18 previously studied genes that were thought to be candidates for inherited depression, and found zilch, zero, nada connection. Still, genes are likely to be another piece of the puzzle, and multiple genetic variations are probably involved.

One reason this stuff is so hard to study is that scientists cant just separate identical twins at birth and see who ends up depressed. Thats totally unethical. The next best thing is to study families and compare identical twins to fraternal twinsthe theory being that if depression is genetic, it would show up more in identical twins than in the fraternal type, who share just half their genes .

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So Then What Does Cause Depression

Sometimes it seems like depression a weeks-to-years-long stretch of sadness or hopelessness with symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, a change in appetite, crying jags, and sometimes even suicidal thoughtscomes out of nowhere.Scientists would love to be able to pinpoint the exact cause of depression, but so far, research has only narrowed it down to biological changes triggered by a whole bunch of factors. These factors can be internal or external , and they can all work together simultaneously to make you feel like never getting off the couch again. Lets dig further into the details.

What Are The Long Term Effects Of Depression

There is plenty of evidence that demonstrates the full range of effects on the body associated with depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with untreated long-term depression are more prone to sleep disruptions, heart disease, weight gain or loss, weakened immune system, and physical pain.

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There’s No One Reason For Depression

Lots of things influence whether a person gets depressed. Some of it is biology things like our genes, brain chemistry, and hormones. Some is environment, including daylight and seasons, or social and family situations we face. And some is personality, like how we react to life events or the support systems we create for ourselves. All these things can help shape whether or not a person becomes depressed.

Genes

Research shows that depression runs in families. Some people inherit genes that contribute to depression. But not everyone who has a family member with depression will develop it too. And many people with no family history of depression still get depressed. So genes are one factor, but they aren’t the only reason for depression.

Brain Chemistry

Chemicals called neurotransmitters help send messages between nerve cells in the brain. Some neurotransmitters regulate mood. When a person is depressed, these neurotransmitters might be in low supply or not effective enough.

Genes and brain chemistry can be connected: Having the genes for depression may make a person more likely to have the neurotransmitter problem that is part of depression.

Stress, Health, and Hormones

Things like stress, using alcohol or drugs, and hormone changes also affect the brain’s delicate chemistry and mood.

Getting enough sleep and regular exercise often has a positive effect on neurotransmitter activity and mood.

Daylight and Seasons

Life Events

Family and Social Environment

A Simple Trick For How Does Depression Run In Families Revealed

Why Does Mental Illness Run in Families? | The Agenda

To get a medical diagnosis of bipolar II, a person will certainly have experienced at least one cycle of hypomania and depression. The National Health Solution in the United Kingdom note that cyclothymia has comparable attributes to bipolar disorder, but the Diagnostic as well as Statistical Guidebook of Mental Illness, fifth Version categorizes it individually. It includes hypomania and depression, yet the modifications are less intense. A person may receive a medical diagnosis of one of three broad types of bipolar disorder how does depression run in families. According to NAMI, symptoms take place on a spectrum, and also the distinction between the kinds is not constantly well-defined. Some people with bipolar disorder may invest a great deal of money, usage entertainment medications, eat alcohol, as well as join dangerous and also inappropriate tasks. If you identify the signs of bipolar affective disorder in yourself or somebody else, do not wait to get help.

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Life Events And Depression

Research suggests that continuing difficulties, such as long-term unemployment, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness or prolonged exposure to stress at work can increase the risk of depression.

Significant adverse life events, such as losing a job, going through a separation or divorce, or being diagnosed with a serious illness, may also trigger depression, particularly among people who are already at risk because of genetic, developmental or other personal factors.

Current And Future Directions For Research

The limited success of GWAS for depression is in contrast with other psychiatric disorders, where established risk variants are accumulating through GWAS. For example, at the time of this writing, there are now more than 100 loci that have been associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at stringent levels of statistical significance.- Despite the fact that individual risk loci have not been identified for depression, we know that such variants will be found given adequate sample sizes. For example, it is now possible to use genome-wide complex trait analysis to estimate the common variant contribution to depression using genome-wide SNP data . Through these methods, estimates of the common variant contribution to depression have ranged from a high of 32% to a low of 21%. It should be noted that these are lower bound estimates because SNP-chip heritability only reflects the effect of common variation that is captured on genotyping arrays.

Thus, the field faces two major questions: what explains the lack success of GWAS and GxE studies for depression and how can we best move forward? As described below , there are several likely explanations for the limited progress to date and several strategies that may help overcome these challenges.

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Demystifying The Depression Gene

Having a genetic variant can make it more likelybut not definitivethat you will develop a condition associated with that variant.

If a gene associated with a specific condition is altered, it may be more likely to contribute to the development of that condition. A benign genetic variant is less likely to influence the condition than a pathogenic variant.

In some cases, researchers identify a genetic variant but dont know what effect it has. These variants are referred to as having “unknown significance.”

Several large genome-wide studies have proposed potential genetic connections to major depressive disorder. In 2017, researchers identified two new genetic variants associated with depression.

A 2018 study published in the journal Nature Genetics identified several genetic variants that appeared to be associated with symptoms of depression and, in some cases, physical differences in the brain.

While the research has provided valuable insight into the potential heritability of mental illness, no studies have definitively identified a single gene as the cause of depression.

Scientists believe it’s more likely that all the different genes and genetic variants each make a small contribution to a person’s overall risk. Research has indicated that genes may be passed down in different ways , which is another factor that could affect someone’s genetic predisposition to depression.

Genetic Factors Contributing To Depression

" Depression runs in families."  Does that mean that I

There isnt just one gene that contributes to depressionin one study, researchers identified 269 genes associated with the development of depression. Moreover, there may be a genetic component to how well a person will respond to depression treatment , including whether a person will be resistant to treatment . However, more research is needed to fully understand this relationship.

An article published in 2011 in Current Psychiatry Reports reviews past research studies that aimed to identify genetic risk factors for depression. This article acknowledges the impact that genetics has on depression. Depression rates were said to be two to three times higher among people who had a first degree relative with the condition. For example, if you have a father, mother, or sibling that has been diagnosed with depression, you are two to three times more likely to develop depression at some point in your life.

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Medications That Can Contribute To Depression

Now, another possible cause of depression: medication. Youd think a sick person taking their medicine would be a win-win, but some treatments are linked to the onset of depression. Among them are:

  • Blood pressure drugs including beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors

  • Antidepressants like Zoloft , Celexa , Wellbutrin , and Elavil

  • Anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax , Klonopin , Valium , and Ativan , plus sedatives like Ambien

  • Corticosteroids like prednisone, taken for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma, allergies, or other conditions

  • Acid reflux drugsthink proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec and Nexium and antacids like Pepcid

  • Anticonvulsants prescribed for variety of reasons, such as epilepsy, bipolar disorder, migraines, and nerve pain these anticonvulsants include Neurontin , Topamax , and Lamictal

  • Hormonal birth control and hormone therapies like estradiol, Proscar or Propecia

Treating Depression In Families

For Boschee, her brotherâs diagnosis of depression during his 30s gave both siblings insight into their fatherâs unhappiness. In the 1970s, he was a small-town Montana newspaper publisher whose undiagnosed depression led to hopelessness, divorce, and other problems before his death from emphysema at age 50. âHe would become incapacitated, unable to get out of bed — very, very unhappy. He had problems with drug and alcohol abuse,â Boschee says. âHe just got taken out of life very easily.”

âMy dad was this really brilliant, creative guy — beautiful family, thriving business — and had every reason to be happy,â she adds. âAnd when my brother was diagnosed, it suddenly made sense to us why he wasnât, and it was because he was dealing with an illness.â

When Boscheeâs brother became so depressed that he couldnât concentrate on his job, he joined the roughly 14.8 million American adults who struggle with major depression in any given year. Unlike his father, he sought help and began taking antidepressants. âHe was so aggressive in treating it because he has children and he really wants to be there for them,â Boschee says. When his two teenagers developed depression, they, too, got prompt treatment.

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Whats The Worst Form Of Depression

Major depression

  • Melancholia. This is the term used to describe a severe form of depression where many of the physical symptoms of depression are present.
  • Psychotic depression. Sometimes people with a depressive disorder can lose touch with reality and experience psychosis.
  • Antenatal and postnatal depression.

Key Points About Depression

What to Do if Depression Runs in Your Family
  • Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects your whole body including your mood and thoughts.

  • Its caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some types of depression seem to run in families.

  • Depression causes ongoing, extreme feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopeless, and irritability. These feelings are usually a noticeable change from whats normal for you, and they last for more than two weeks.

  • Depression may be diagnosed after a careful psychiatric exam and medical history done by a mental health professional.

  • Depression is most often treated with medicine or therapy, or a combination of both.

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Depression Is Hereditary: Fact Or Fiction

Like mother, like daughter: Not necessarily the case when it comes to depression.

Depression is surprisingly common in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health , An estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode . This number represented 7.1% of all U.S. adults. With so many people suffering from depression, researchers have long sought to determine the cause. Is depression genetic? Or are other factors at play?

The answer, it turns out, is somewhat complicated. Current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors, explains NIMH. Research conducted at Stanford shows that if someone has a parent or sibling with major depression, that person probably has a 2 or 3 times greater risk of developing depression compared with the average person.

Even though there is a greater risk for people whose immediate family members have depression, the answer is still not quite black-and-white. Studies on identical twins have found that in about 30% of cases, one twin develops depression but the other one does not. There is not a gene for depression, according to Michael D. Yapko, a clinical psychologist who specializes in depression. There is a genetic vulnerability toward depression, but not a gene.

Nature Vs Nurture: How Environment Impacts Ones Risk Of Developing Depression

Although certain genes have been linked to depression, its still possible to develop depression even if you dont have a family member with the condition. A study published in 2018 observed more than two million offspring in Sweden across multiple generations to find correlations in patterns of depression among families. The study found that a childs environment influences the risk of developing depression just as much as inherited genetic factors.

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The Role Of Genetics In Depression

As far as researchers know, it’s the interplay of genes and other factors that determine whether someone develops depression.

Some studies have indicated that someone with a first-degree relative diagnosed with depression could be three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression in their lifetime compared to the general population.

However, its important to note that while studies have suggested a clear link within families, these findings dont account for those who develop depression without a family history.

Research has demonstrated that genes play a role in the potential risk for many health conditions, including depression.

Studies have suggested there is a heritable component to depression. Some research has also indicated that women may be more susceptible to the genetic influences associated with depression than men.

Mental Health Issues That Are More Likely To Run In Families

Depression Runs in My Family

There are a lot of reasons why a mental health issue can develop. If you struggle with one, then you already know it can feel like a complex problem. There are biological components, emotional components, and genetic components, meaning some mental health issues run in families.

If several family members have a certain mental health issue, for example, it might explain some of the problems you’ve been dealing with. “Several mental illnesses have at least some genetic component,” Ravi N. Shah, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center, tells Bustle. “Remember that the vast majority of mental illnesses are not strictly heritable by a single gene. Rather, they are more similar to a complex trait such as height or intelligence. That means that broadly speaking, a family history of mental illness raises the risk of mental illness in patients on average.” But that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily guaranteed.

In fact, science isn’t really sure as to the cause of most mental illnesses. As Shah says, “The exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, but genetic and environmental factors interact to increase the risk of mental illness for any particular individual.” It’s the whole “nature versus nurture” thing.

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