The Genetics of Depression is a book written by psychiatrist Gene Davidson that explores the possible reasons for the development of depression and anxiety in the family. Some families seem to be more prone to the development of these illnesses than others. The book looks into both environmental factors and genes that affect an individual's likelihood of developing depression or anxiety. This is very important to know because of the many different types of mental disorders there are today.
It is important to recognize that the depression gene will only be passed on if the parents share it. If one parent does not have the gene, it will not pass on. If the mother or father does not have the gene for the child will not suffer from the illness either.
So, what causes the depression? Scientists believe that some of the causes are from genes that are passed from one generation to the next. They believe that the variation in the DNA from one generation to the next affects the brain chemistry of the individual. The brain chemistry helps determine the possible cause of the depression or anxiety, the child may be suffering from. Of course, they can't determine how the depression will affect the individual unless the child goes through puberty.
Scientists also believe that genetic variations can be passed down from one generation to another. If one or both parents have depression, the chances of their child developing the same condition increase. If the child comes from a depressed family, they are more likely to suffer from the illness themselves. But, again, the cause of this can't be determined because of the way genetics work.
Some of the genetic variations that lead to depression can also lead to other types of mental health problems later in life. If the depression is severe enough, the child will go through puberty without being able to function very well socially or emotionally. Then they will go into adulthood suffering from the depression once again. This time, the symptoms will be more serious than in the childhood period.
When a person has difficulty coping with his or her depression, the symptoms can lead to other mental health conditions. That's because the child has a hard time dealing with the stressors in his or her life, such as the loss of a job or a death in the family. He or she begins to see the world through a distorted lens, and consequently develops anxiety and depression. So, although the genes of depression can make it worse in some people, they don't necessarily make it worse in all children.
If the parents or grandparents of a child are affected by the depression, there is an increased chance of the child developing the disorder himself or herself. In fact, scientists believe that the disorder is caused by biological causes that run in families. Therefore, if there are biological causes for the depression in the family, there will likely be similar psychological problems in the children as well. The research into the genetics of depression is still ongoing, and more studies need to be done in order to determine what the causes of depression are in families.
So, the conclusion that can be drawn is that the genes of depression have nothing to do with the mental health and wellness of the individual. He or she might have severe mood swings and be depressed, but that does not mean that he or she will develop the disorder. The symptoms may have been severe in the childhood years and therefore might cause even worse symptoms in the adult life, but this is not true. The research into the genetics of depression is ongoing, and hopefully in the future, we will be able to answer more about this condition and learn why it does occur.
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