Is Depression Inherited?

According to the University of Michigan Depression Center, 18 million people in the USA are afflicted with depression. Roughly 25 percent of them are women, while 10 percent are men. For the most part, the verdict seems to be out as to whether depression is an "inherited" or genetic disorder or not. There are four basic theories surrounding depression.

Chemicals and Environment

Certain people may have a genetic disposition towards acquiring depression, but that this disposition does not cause the disease; it makes the mind for fertile for the growth of depression. Depression is thus a combination of life experiences, nature, nurture and genetic disposition towards a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression, if present in both a parent and a child, could be brought on by parenting methods passed on through the decades. This is not to say the parent is to blame for the child's illness, but rather that similar environments, life experiences and ideologies led to the depression.

Not Inherited

Professionals such as Roger Gould, M.D. Therapist Mark Tyrrell assert that depression is not genetic but rather guided by chemical changes in the brain. Since no two brains are alike in composure, it would be impossible for a parent to pass on its exact brain-structure to his or her child, meaning that the depression is of a solely chemical nature. If a parent and a child happen to both share depression, it only shows that they have similar, but not identical, chemical imbalances in their brains. Depression has to do more with the nature of one's life, goals and mindset, but not a hereditary link.

Inherited

According to a article on the ScienceDaily website, depressed people have fewer cells in certain portions of the brain, suggesting that in runs in families. The findings discovered that people with a family history of depression had less activity in a region of the brain behind the mid-forehead called the "subgenual prefrontal cortex". The subgenual prefrontal cortex of those in the study was also significantly smaller that those of health people. The reason for the decrease in size is that the depressed patients had a fewer number of glia cells present which are responsible for clearing out chemical created by neurons and responding to the stress hormone cortisol and serotonin. Additionally, it is known that serotonin levels are very low in depressed patients.

Inherited and Environment

The University of Michigan Depression Center website states that depression is a combination of genetic disposition as well as the nature and nurture argument. Depression is hereditary and augmented by early life stressors. These factors change chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. There is also a fear that recurrent cycles of depression may cause brain tissue deterioration and brain damage. However, there is no need for alarm. This statement is only in theory and the website goes on to propose that treatment may reverse or stop the cycle of brain deterioration.

Inconclusive Data

It seems that the professional world is still split into factions concerning depression. The most important aspect of depression is treatment and knowing more about the source of depression will surely help treatments to advance. Hopefully with new technological innovations that are springing up every day, scientists and therapists will grow closer to finding the cause of depression so that it may be treated with better medicines and so that the people is affects will be given a longer and brighter prognosis.

Resources

• University of Michigan Depression Center