does mental health issues run in the family?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

Some mental health issues seem to run in families, although no-one can say definitively why this seems to be the case. Children of Bipolar parents, for example definitely have a MUCH higher chance of getting the disorder. This was also thought to be the case with schizophrenia, and while it still looks like there may be SOME inherited tendency a recent report in the Guardian suggested that there is more of nurture than nature in schizophrenia, and environmental things MAY be more of a trigger. The real truth is, that although incidence of Mental health issues seems to be higher in those with relatives with a mental health problem, we don't yet know why that is.

Answer 3

Sure they can. In my case, it definitely got passed on to me from my father. I barely knew the man and he left when I was very young. He has severe clinical depression and was/is suicidal, with anxiety and OCD (mostly hoarding). He's also an alcoholic and compulsive gambler. I turned out with severe clinical depression, constant thoughts of suicide, anxiety/panic attacks, paranoia and OCD. I'm also an alcoholic. I stay away from gambling since I don't need any more problems!! It got really eerie when my mom told me I was basically repeating all the same things my father used to say all the time even though a lot of it was said by him before I was born. My father went untreated for his mental illness and he's hospitalized now. I'm much better off and on all the right meds, etc..

Answer 4

I don't think it has been proven but I'm pretty sure its safe to say that you are more likely to develop a mental illness if you have a family history of it.

One of my grandmothers has Alzheimer's. It runs in the women on that side of the family. She got it. so I'd say this is proof that some mental illnesses do run in the family.

Almost anything can run in the family. Mental illnesses or obesity.

Answer 5

yes it runs in families its all in your gentic make up, passed down form generations, some conditions missing a genertaion and going to the next, some conditons inherited form the father and some form the mother

your either the carrier of some mutuated genes or recessive to them which means you have the gene and dispaly the symptoms

depression is linked to genetics, however anyone can become depressed dut to trauma, shock and family deaths

its a condition that has a lot of stigma attached to it

differnt levels from slightly, clinically and severly depressed,

can i just disagree with an answer above autisim isnt linked to depression ive studied it for nealry four years!!!

Answer 6

they are usually genetic, but that doesn't mean you have to have a mental illness yourself - and I think treatment is so much better than it was for mental health issues now there is more understanding of it. So if you were to be diagnosed with a problem you would hopefully be in more capable hands.
Its not pre-determined though - as they say, biology is not destiny.

Answer 7

A study was done among the Amish which showed that a depressive gene was passed down to future generations. This is especially true with anyone who has either parent and especially both parents who suffer from depression. Autism is another possibility of inheriting that syndrome.

Answer 8

Absolutely. But often if say a parent was schizophrenic the child might get a less severe form of mental disorder such as bipolar disorder.

Answer 9

some mental illnesses have genetic links as in bipolar, schizophrenia, depression others like DID or Borderline Personality Disorder are more likely caused by a persons upbringing

Answer 10

I'm positive they do. Many in my family have or still do suffer from depression at times. Also myself and 2 other first cousins have Borderline Personality Disorder.

Answer 11

Yes especially Bipolar disorder