Is depression inheritable?

Depression is one among the most common psychological problems of our times. The probability to develop a mayor depression within your life time is up to 18%! The World Health Organization counts it to the fourth most common disease and expects its probability of occurrence to increase even more in the next years.

Fact is that nearly everyone knows someone, who is diagnosed with depression or who at least shows some symptoms. These kind of psychological problems seem to run in families. Like a curse you cannot flee from. But is depression inheritable?

Yes and no. There are certain genetic loadings, that will make it more likely for one to develop a depression. If one’s grandmother and mother suffered from the symptoms, one might develop them as well. But it is not an inevitable destiny. If the symptoms occur is based on many factors – one is not a victim of one’s genes.

Studies have shown, that the environment one grows up in, has a big impact on health. One is more than the sum of the genes. Within a family people learn thinking patterns from their parents, ways of treating and solving problems and fears or hope for the future . One copies consciously and unconsciously these ways of looking at the world. The good news about this is, that negative ways of thinking (which usually run with depression) can be unlearned again.

It is fair to say, that there are certain risk factors, that increase one’s probability to develop a depression such as traumatic life events, physical health problems or current emotional stress. But it is also very important to notice, that there are many ways out of the depression with professional support. Once you notice the symptoms you should seek for professional help.