Whether environmental or hereditary, the answer is yes, depression does run in families.
Does Depression Run In Families?
The causes of any mental disorders are still the subject of great controversy amongst the scientific community. Some researchers suggest that environmental factors are the immediate causes of problems such as depression. These might include upbringing or stress. However, while this has been proven to be a possibility for such problems as anxiety attacks or mild depression, there is little evidence to suggest that these are the causes of more serious disorders.
There is a good body of evidence to suggest that some people may have a genetic predisposition to psychological disorders ~ that is, they have inherited the problem. This is generally said to be as a result of a chemical imbalance, although some researchers also suggest that a subtle difference in hormone levels is to blame. These findings are, however, far from universally accepted. Scientists who argue that a chemical imbalance is to blame often cite studies showing that people from a family with a history of mental health problems are more likely to suffer themselves, but others suggest that this might not be a result of any biological cause at all, but rather of an upbringing in a less stable environment.
There is a good body of evidence to suggest that some people may have a genetic predisposition to psychological disorders ~ that is, they have inherited the problem. This is generally said to be as a result of a chemical imbalance, although some researchers also suggest that a subtle difference in hormone levels is to blame. These findings are, however, far from universally accepted. Scientists who argue that a chemical imbalance is to blame often cite studies showing that people from a family with a history of mental health problems are more likely to suffer themselves, but others suggest that this might not be a result of any biological cause at all, but rather of an upbringing in a less stable environment.
