Depression inheritance?

LegacyUser

Hi,

Want to have a child with my gf some day, but it came up in conversation the other day. She says because we are both prone to bouts of depression any kid we have is likely to be messed in the head because of genetics? Is that true? I want to be a dad but dont want to condemn my kid to the feelings I have gone through in my head

I am 29, gf is 27, and we plan on getting married though were not officially engaged, btw.

Thanks.

Das Kitty

Bluebear78 wrote: »

Hi,

Want to have a child with my gf some day, but it came up in conversation the other day. She says because we are both prone to bouts of depression any kid we have is likely to be messed in the head because of genetics? Is that true? I want to be a dad but dont want to condemn my kid to the feelings I have gone through in my head

I am 29, gf is 27, and we plan on getting married though were not officially engaged, btw.

Thanks.

I don't think the genetic link for depression is proven, although I do think it is there.

However, two parents prone to depressive bouts does not necessarily mean that a child will suffer in the same way, nor does two parents who've never been depressed mean their child won't be. There are different levels and I've yet to meet someone who never had a bout of depression whether they were aware what it is or not.

Think of it this way, you're self aware enough to be considering this now, and with your joint experience you will be able to identify it more easily in a child and be able to help them. I suffered from depression in the past and there was no one who spotted it so consequently I felt extremely isolated which prolonged it.

994

MOst types of depression (except bipolar) aren't very heritable. It's more that a a depressed parent's behaviour (distant, erratic, cold, or whatever) can lead to the child growing up insecure and maybe becoming depressed.

liah

Well, I'm not saying my family is proof, but so far myself, my mother, her sisters (my aunts), her brother (my uncle), and my grandmother have it. I was never aware of their depression until they told me about it, mostly because they were medicated. They seemed normal to me growing up, even after I started showing signs.

I'm currently the only one not on medication for it.

I'd assume my dad's side has it too but I know very little of him. Just that his behaviour in the first 3 years of my life in which I knew him led me to believe he was definitely afflicted with some kind of depressive disorder.

In my opinion it's hereditary. But I'm no doctor. Just going from what I've seen in my family.

LegacyUser

It seems that certain subtypes of depression may be heritable or certainly it is possible to inherit a propensity for particular depressive disorders. However, whether or not that latent propensity ever develops into actual physical and mental symptoms is considered to be down to environmental/stress factors (diathesis-stress theory of depression). There's a lot of research being done into patterns of inheritance (both epidemiological and neurobiological studies) but I don't think there have been any definite conclusions yet.

Occam

Unregistered wrote: »

It seems that certain subtypes of depression may be heritable or certainly it is possible to inherit a propensity for particular depressive disorders.

Agreed.

Unregistered wrote: »

However, whether or not that latent propensity ever develops into actual physical and mental symptoms is considered to be down to environmental/stress factors

Its considered by *some* people to be down to environmental\stress factors. Many others disagree.

For comparison even the genetics of eye color inheritance is not fully understood. We cannot even accurately predict eye colour, never mind depression. Granted we can predict eye colour around 90% of the time in some studies but thats as good as it gets.

To address the posters question, statistics currently indicate that offspring of two people suffering from depression will experience depression themselves 70% of the time.

oil painting

Hi OP,

I do not believe depression is heredity. We inherit the thought patterns of our parents which is why there are links with the behaviours but it certainly does not mean you will pass it on genetically, depression is an emotion and not a disease. It can manifest deeply and get out of control, I believe with the right treatment depression can be overcome, and Im talking from experience, because i overcame it myself.

Our thoughts create our future, you have to retrain the brain to overcome limiting beliefs, I used psychotherapy and got to the root cause of my emotional distress and it was all released from my body. I used to suffer cronic anxiety and panic but its all gone now,

I do not believe anyone gets depressed for no reason, there are always issues involved, and usually it is because people feel trapped and emotions get bent up.


Why dont you and your GF go and see a therapist - this will really prepare you and you help get some perspective from a qualified person.

Occam

oil painting wrote: »

I do not believe depression is heredity.

Fair enough, we are all entitled to our opinion.... even if all the evidence tends to disagree with you !

oil painting wrote: »

We inherit the thought patterns of our parents which is why there are links with the behaviours but it certainly does not mean you will pass it on genetically

Indeed, and this is why studies are carried out into twins, especially monozygotic ( identical ) twins. Studies carried out into monozygotic twins who are reared independently ( adopted ) disprove your theory however.... as they tend to have similar propensities to depression.

oil painting wrote: »

depression is an emotion and not a disease.

This view is often pushed by the scientologists ..... when the main group agreeing with you are the scientologists its wise to reconsider your position

partyatmygaff

Put it this way, they'll only feel depressed if there is reason to be depressed. Make sure they don't feel a reason to be depressed as much as possible.

LegacyUser

OP here. Thanks all for the replies. Most of you have discussed general feelings or personal experiences with this, and I am grateful for all input.

Occam, your reply seems much more specific than the others. Can you point me to some research on this, or is your information drawn from general knowledge in this field? In my opinion, 70% risk is too high and so my gf was right, but I'd like to read up on it if you have sources.

oil painting - I appreciate your comment, but if there are studies out there to support Occam's statement, I would weigh them more heavily than personal beliefs. Too many people ignore statistics based on the fact that they personal experience to the contrary of the general population. With regards your comment on therapy, my gf and I have both suffered from depression, and we have both seen professionals about this in the past. The depression is not something that effects us at present, but we have both shown a susceptibility to it. If it has a genetic cause, then therapy have taken will not help our child's genes.

oil painting

Yep its my opinion alright, and Im sticking to it, Many have disagreed but i know how i have healed first hand and they were not science books i was reading,

The answers are always on the inside, it is society that makes everything so rule based, fact based and conventional, i spent years reversing what i was taught in schools, religions and from parents, it was only when i learnt to live in the now and gave up identifying with society and others beliefs that i became truly happy,

we are spiritual beings and no human scientist can ever dictate what is the truth, you have a much better chance of having a happier life if you trust yourself and live from your instinctive side.

The future of healing from depression will be associated more with trusting the self because everyone is different and everyone heals differently.

LegacyUser

Oil painting, once again I appreciate your view but I am not interested in finding a cure for depression. I have sat down their professionals (whether or not you believe in psychology I don't know), and I have worked through my problems. So has my partner. We are both healthy, stable members of society. I know that I am prone to depression, but I have coping mechanisms in place and do not let it rule me the way it once did.

I am only interested in whether this is a hereditary condition, and whether I am increasing the chance of my potential children having psychological problems just by creating them.

Although I respect your right to an opinion, I have no interest in a science versus spirituality debate. I'm sure there are many people on this forum who would enjoy the argument, but that is a matter for a seperate thread so please don't draw this one off-topic.

oil painting

Unregistered wrote: »

Oil painting, once again I appreciate your view but I am not interested in finding a cure for depression. I have sat down their professionals (whether or not you believe in psychology I don't know), and I have worked through my problems. So has my partner. We are both healthy, stable members of society. I know that I am prone to depression, but I have coping mechanisms in place and do not let it rule me the way it once did.

I am only interested in whether this is a hereditary condition, and whether I am increasing the chance of my potential children having psychological problems just by creating them.

Although I respect your right to an opinion, I have no interest in a science versus spirituality debate. I'm sure there are many people on this forum who would enjoy the argument, but that is a matter for a seperate thread so please don't draw this one off-topic.

Apologies OP,


Maybe regular posters can not provide this information that it is hereditary, like people can only share what they know on the matter in a personal issues forum, but no one can say 100% if it is hereditary IMO,

If you have both done work on your own depression and are aware of it and have resources in place to handle it then you are being responsible and would make responsible parents.

Occam

Unregistered wrote: »

Can you point me to some research on this, or is your information drawn from general knowledge in this field? In my opinion, 70% risk is too high and so my gf was right, but I'd like to read up on it if you have sources.

Here is some more info ( although I haven't cited the relevent academic papers - unless you have a very strong understanding of statistics they may be unhelpful, although you will find them cited in some of the articles below ) :

Genetics and Depression

All About Depression

Beating Depression

Given the implications for you of these statistics, I guess it would be prudent to clarify my earlier post :

1) The sample size of the study was small, which gives rise to a large margin of error

2) The study was on bi polar parents. The level of genetic involvement in other disorders may vary.

3) There has been some conflicting research in the area. Some researchers have struggled to find these patterns in other populations.

Monkey61

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Put it this way, they'll only feel depressed if there is reason to be depressed. Make sure they don't feel a reason to be depressed as much as possible.

Unfortunately not true in many cases.

Doghouse

Occam wrote: »

Given the implications for you of these statistics, I guess it would be prudent to clarify my earlier post :

1) The sample size of the study was small, which gives rise to a large margin of error

2) The study was on bi polar parents. The level of genetic involvement in other disorders may vary.

3) There has been some conflicting research in the area. Some researchers have struggled to find these patterns in other populations.

Patterns of heritability in bipolar disorder are very different to those in unipolar depression. There is far more consistent proof of a genetic trend to BPAD. The two disorders are very different and are likely to have very different causes (see Trinity's recent research on the genetics of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) so OP unless you and your partner have bipolar disorder these figures won't apply to you. Estimates for unipolar depression are usually c.20-40%. If you do a google or google scholar search for 'heritability of major depressive disorder/unipolar depression' you should be able to find a good few articles on the subject.

Occam

Doghouse wrote: »

Patterns of heritability in bipolar disorder are very different to those in unipolar depression.

I wouldn't say the patterns are very different, the rates may be lower, but its similar in that offspring have increased risk.

Doghouse wrote: »

The two disorders are very different and are likely to have very different causes

I'm not so sure I would agree that they are very different. Many patients with bipolar are often diagnosed as unipolar for years. Both conditions respond similarly to the same treatments, and offspring of unipolar parents have an increased risk of bipolar disorder. Indeed many unipolar patients go on to have a manic episode....

Ajos

Like many others who have responded, I have suffered from and overcome depression. It does appear to run in my famaily - my father, my grandfather etc. But there's a larger issue here - the assumption that it is better not to be born than to experience depression.

OP, assume it is true that your child will have a 70% chance of experiencing depression at some point in their lives (actually I doubt very much that this can be determined so specifically, but that's a separate issue). Do you really think that this hypothetical person would actually choose not to exist? To experience all the good things that life has to offer? Do you feel that your past depression has rendered your life as a whole not worth the effort?

Every life contains pain. Sometimes it comes in the form of depression. That doesn't mean that life isn't worth living, or passing on.

Sin1981

there is definitely a genetic influence. Your children will have be at an 'increased risk' but are not guaranteed to get it. Don't be worrying. Depression tends to occur due to a mixture of genes and environment. So, just because a person has a susceptibility due to genetic inheritance it doesn't mean they will get it at some point. Often an event in their life will trigger it. If you are very aware, then you can be as supportive as possible to your child, or even do your best to prevent it maybe by ensuring they're happy go lucky and not stressed etc..