How strong is the connection between mental health problems and genetics?

Answer 1

The nurse above me is over-generalizing. Some mental illnesses have been shown to have strong hereditary ties, like BiPolar disorder and schizophrenia, while the jury is still out on others, like alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Your question is asking the age-old "nature vs. nurture" controversy that still sparks hot debate among psychologists today. Too, I think that in many cases it is a combination of both. Alcoholism is a prime example: someone may be genetically pre-disposed to being an alcoholic but will not become one unless he begins drinking regularly or problematically due to maladaptive coping skills.

Answer 2

There is a clear genetic link when it comes to mental illness. Nevertheless, there is no known mental illness where genetics plays an insurmountable or wholly controlling role. What this means is that even with Bipolar Disorder (BD), which has repeatedly been shown to have the strongest genetic link, it is not possible to predict with any accuracy if a child will develop this illness or any other mental illness. What genetic linkage analysis does help us to do is diagnose. A patient who presents with symptoms of a Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with a strong family history of BD is going to need to be watched very carefully for signs that a current depressive episode may be part of a BD and not a unipolar MDD. The treatments for BD and MDD are very different. So one needs to be very careful when treating an individual with depression who has a strong family history of BD versus an individual with no family history of BD. Other mental illnesses have a more modest but clear genetic link (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse) while still others seem to lack any (currently) known genetic link (e.g., Rhett's Syndrome).

Answer 3

There are many schools of thought that theorize they root os mental health disorders. Some feel we all have some disposition to a class of disorders and when faced with a stressful situation, your predisposition may become evident. Others feel there's behavioral component (it's literally learned) particularly with mood and anxiety disorders, however, they're finding genetics links to all kinds of disorders these days. From substance abuse to schizophrenia. Some disorders have stronger links than others. But it is not uncommon to find psychosis running in some families.

Answer 4

Very strong!!! unfortunately if I knew it was in my husbands family(No one ever spoke of it) It wasn't until years later that I found out that his grandmother (father's side) was put in a institution at 35 yrs.old the family just said she had a nervous breakdown I only saw the woman once she was elderly by then an she was in her own little world.My husband & I have 3 grown children girl,&2boys their all diagnosed with bipolar, Oldest is a girl all she does is lie(my late father-in law was the same way) our oldest son is a alcholic (inherited that from my side)my father was one,it skipped a generation none of my siblings or myself ever had a problem with alchol. our youngest son is a theif,an on drugs,I have been thru hell with all of them,so I won't have anything more to do with him I've tried but he also lies big time. now today my husband went to court because I had him arrested for threating to Kill me ,an for abuse this is the second time in my marriage that this has happened.He is just like his father(who he hated) I'm finally going to get a divorce,an try to heal because I blamed myself for the way my kids turned out an it's not my fault.I was, and still am a good mom I was to good.So there you have it I know it's in the genes,an hopefully it will skip another generation because we have 4 beautiful grandchildren.

Answer 5

Very strong! Depression and other mental illnesses may be the result of alterations in several genes at once. Although no specific genes have yet been found, doctors estimate that 48% to 75% of depression is inherited, and they believe that they'll find the exact genetic mechanism very soon.

Answer 6

dont have a degree, but lots of experience. my mom has depression and anxiety. i am also treated for depression. my dad has bi-polar disorder (which wasn't diagnosed until he was an adult). after i was hospitalzed for depression, they decided i also was bipolar.
so i'm thinking the case is pretty strong that it could be genetic. BTW, my sister is about as "normal" as they come.

Answer 7

Millions and millions of dollars has been spent researching that very topic. The end result, a lot of opinions. Some say very, others say different influences mostly the environment.

Answer 8

i imagine this is because no longer all psychological wellbeing issues are psychological topics. for example, shows like Dr. Phil. you word those who look doing issues that are for sure risky to them and loved ones. maximum are from questioning a particular way and may get replaced by using readjusting one's questioning (cognitive). psychological ailment/ailment/ailment, on the different hand, is the position some thing physiologically is taking place in the mind inflicting someone to sense and act a particular way. this is not completely of their administration b/c their mind is the organ it is diseased or lacking a chemical ingredient.

Answer 9

Usually one child,sometimes the first child is more prone to getting it. But it's not necessarily so. How you are brought up is more important in my opinion. If you're given enough love, caring & the right discipline.

Answer 10

very strong