Is mental illness genetic?

AHarvey · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:29

Hi all,

It had been a long time since I did my alevel psychlogy so I don't remember that much about it.

However, my dad is a complete fruit loop. Pouring petrol over himself, suicide attempts, extreme aggression etc. Told people a while ago he had schizophrenia but tbh, I never believed him.

However, I've been suffering with depression for years, had a really bad spell 6 months ago for a couple of months. I worked through it, sheer will power and managed to avoid the doctors and medication.

Found out yesterday that my younger brother has been diagnosed with severe depression and also maybe has schizophrenia.

I was just wondering if you suffer with schizophrenia, and if so, has anyone else in your family got it?

I am not after medical advice, just interested in your personal experiences!

a1ex2001 · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:32

Most mental illness has some hereditary links but depression in particular the link is pretty sketchy.

Brian Stuart · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:37

I would tend to the theory that some mental conditions can be triggered by circumstance rather than any genetic reason. When I look at your background and the feelings that your Dad's behavior left you and your brother with, some sort of mental issues were almost inevitable. (don't mean to be ignorant or rude BTW I have had a couple of depressive episodes myself)

alexakasloth · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:42

I'm inclined to agree with Brian Stuart, it's probably because of nurture not nature.

Brian Stuart · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:46

$loth said:
I'm inclined to agree with Brian Stuart, it's probably because of nurture not nature.

There are underlying physiological reasons why depression can take hold but in principle I tend to agree with you. Nurture perhaps dictates how we respond to the physiological reasons.

Steedie · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:49

My whole family have suffered with or still do suffer with some form of depression

So I bloomin well hope not

Brian Stuart · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:52

Steedie said:
My whole family have suffered with or still do suffer with some form of depression

So I bloomin well hope not

The number of people who experience some form of depression is enormous so you family is not out of the ordinary.

ic1male · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:56

I always wondered how do you medically define schizophrenia. I've only encountered it on the TV, where it's presumably exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Brian Stuart · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:58

ic1male said:
I always wondered how do you medically define schizophrenia. I've only encountered it on the TV, where it's presumably exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Linky

blix · 1 Apr 2009 at 09:59

The article on schizophrenia on Wiki is a featured article and is actually very good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

Pestilence · 1 Apr 2009 at 12:04

I believe some more serious mental illnesses can be hereditary, or at least some have a genetic predisposition towards it - for example Alzheimer's or Schizophrenia.

Depression, I don't believe does. I'm the only member of my family to suffer any mental illness, namely Manic and later clinical Depression.