Hello there

You ask an intriguing question I have often wondered about myself.  I have a long line of family members who suffered from assorted mental maladies.  In fact, my parents met in a mental hospital.  I too, feel as though I have suffered from depression since childhood.  Was it my genes?  Was it my traumatic childhood?  A little of both maybe?

My hypothesis is that we are born with the predisposition to certain mental and physical health risks.  And then environmental factors weigh in...and within this mix a mood or health disorder is born.

As far as straight up genetics go...The National Institute of Mental Health wrote about a mutant gene as most likely being responsible for  treatment resistant depression.  You may read about this gene right here.

And this article suggests that perhaps a combination of genes is responsible for hereditary depression.  The author states that:  "It appears unlikely that it is one single gene that directly causes depression but rather, a group of genes that together predispose a person to depressive illness. One gene that has been isolated is 5-HTT and it helps to regulate a neurotransmitter known as serotonin."

So will our kids suffer from depression?  Let's hope not.  We will not know that for sure until it happens or it doesn't.  But knowing it runs in our families...to provide the best loving environment couldn't hurt.

Thank you for your question.