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Causes | Basics | Symptoms | Signs | Types of Depression
Biological
Causes | Genetic Causes | Environmental
Causes
Psychological Causes | Medical
Illness Causes | Other Causes.
Genetic Causes of Depression
Researchers have had a growing interest in identifying genetic factors that may play a role in the causation of depression. There is growing evidence that some genes (genetic causes) could make individuals, and family members, more vulnerable to depression. This would explain why depression is often found in multiple members of a family.
Recently scientists identified a unique gene that increases the risk of depression by a factor of four. This gene codes a protein involved with the transport of serotonin in the brain. If the gene is the culprit for an imbalance of serotonin levels, then it is one of several factors (genetic and biological because of the change in brain chemistry) which are contributing to the development of depression. In addition to this single gene, it is estimated that there may be as many as 30 other depressive genes involved in the development of depression.
Genetic Causes in Families
It has been a known fact for some time that depressive illnesses can run in families. Various studies have demonstrated that people with close family members with depression have a 1 in 4 chance of developing depression also. This statistic compares with a 1 in 14 chance for the general population. A key question that researchers ask - "Is depression the result of genetic factors in a family, or is it the result of the environment of the family?" - is slowly being answered with research.
In addition, manic depression (bipolar disorder) is believed to have a strong genetic influence. People who develop manic depression have an approximate chance of 50% of having at least one parent with a history of clinical depression. Additional statisics of manic depression and its possible genetic link:
- mother or father has bipolar disorder = 25% chance a child will have some type of depression
- both parents have bipolar disorder = 50% - 75% chance a child will have some type of depression
- sibling with bipolar disorder = 8 to 18 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder
- sibling with bipolar disorder = 2 to 10 times more likely to develop major depressive disorder
Conclusion concerning Genetic Causes
No one is predetermined to develop clinical depression or bipolar disorder. Just because a person has inherited a particular gene or genes does not mean that he or she will develop a depressive illness. Virtually all researchers agree that there are several factors that contribute to the causation of depression, and that a genetic cause may be only partially responsible. Some of these factors are biological, environmental, psychological (stress and traumatic events), substance abuse, medical illness, etc.
A complete understanding of the role of genetic causes in clinical depression and bipolar disorder is still in the future.
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