does depression run in the family?

Answer 1

It CERTAINLY CAN

Answer 2

YES definitely. My entire maternal side suffers from some sort of mental illness...mostly depression. However, it is also environmentally influence. We learn to deal with what life gives us by those whose raised us and spent lots of time around us in our youth. So really there is a biological predisposition as well as an environmental influence on depression in families.

Answer 3

YES!!!
I was diagnosed with "chronic, life-long depression" at age 17. I had been basically suicidal from age 11 onward, caused by a "chemical imbalance" in my brain (or, so said my doctor. In fact, my depression went away for the most part when I was 22, and it was actually caused by my subconcious hiding of years of childhood sexual abuse done to me by 4 different people. Once I dealt with the abuse, the depression left me.)

My last living grandmother suffers from panic attacks and depression. My one grandfather was chronically depressed for years and covered his pain with alcoholism. My father has made statements that he would kill himself if he were ever separated from my mother. My mother has said that she has thought of suicide in the past.

Answer 4

It certainly can. Depression can be passed down from generation to generation.

Answer 5

Sometimes.

If the depression stems primarily from biological causes then it certainly can have genetic causes or predispositions.

Answer 6

Yes it can. My dad and my uncle both suffer from depression.

Answer 7

No one knows if it is genetic or not, but children raised in an environment of depression learn that behavior and attitude.

Answer 8

yes it can. my great grandmother, grandmother, 2 aunts, dad, sister, and me. and 5 out of the 7 (including me) were either hospitalized or are currently on medication.