Did you ever notice that depression or bipolar disorder seems to “run” in certain families? Maybe your mom gets anxious like her mom did, or your brother’s moods remind you of your uncle. These patterns prompt many individuals to wonder: Are mood disorders actually hereditary via genes?
The quick answer is yes—but it’s not that easy. Mental disorders like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia do involve genetics. Having a family history, however, doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to develop these psychiatric disorders. Understanding the science of genetic risk factors can help guide your choices about your mental health care and help you know when to seek care.
Before we dive into genetics, let’s establish what we’re talking about with mood disorders. They are medical illnesses that largely affect how you feel emotionally. They are not “bad days” or passing sadness—they are serious diseases that may disrupt your daily life.
Some of the most common mood disorders include:
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Scientists employ twin studies to learn how much genetics play a role in mood disorders. They compare identical twins (who share 100% of their genes) and fraternal twins (who share 50% of their genes). If a condition is hereditary, identical twins should be more likely to both have it.1 Here’s what studies reveal:
That is, genes do play some role, but they don’t tell the entire story. Environment and life experiences get involved too.
Bipolar disorder is often said to be “highly heritable,” but what does that actually mean? It doesn’t mean that if your parents have bipolar disorder, you have a 70% chance of developing it yourself. Instead, heritability refers to how much of the difference in who gets bipolar disorder (across a large group of people) can be explained by genetics—and that number ranges from 60% to 85%.2
In simpler terms: genetics play a big role, but they’re not destiny.
Let’s break it down:
So yes, family history does raise your risk—but most people with a genetic predisposition never go on to develop the disorder. That’s because environmental factors, life experiences, and even random chance all play a role, too. Think of genetics as a loaded gun—but it still takes a trigger.
Scientists now use something called genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to look at specific genes that contribute to mental disorders. These large studies test DNA from thousands of people to find patterns of genes.6
New GWAS results are:
What does it mean to you? These results explain why families may have mood disorders and why one person might have more than one mental illness.
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Anxiety disorders often accompany depression—a trend referred to as comorbidity. They share many of the same genetic risk factors, which is the reason most individuals experience anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Knowing the psychiatric history of your family can be very helpful to you and your health care providers. However, it is not always easy to get. Psychiatric illnesses carry a stigma, and older family members may have never been properly diagnosed.
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Just because you have genetic risk factors for mood disorders doesn’t mean you’re helpless. There are numerous effective strategies to alleviate symptoms if they do happen.
Lifestyle factors:
Managing stress:
Yes, mood disorders are inherited—but it’s not the entire story. Genetic risk factors are just one piece of a complicated puzzle with other components consisting of environmental influences, life events, social support, and access to treatment.
Understanding your genetic risk empowers you to make decisions about your mental health. No matter depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or another psychiatric disorder, help is there.
At AMFM (A Mission for Michael), we understand that mood disorders are complex diseases with genetic and environmental components. Our multidisciplinary team provides full-service treatment that considers your family history, life experience, and individual needs. We treat clients in California, Minnesota, and Virginia through outpatient therapy, residential treatment, and special programs for youth.
Keep in mind, your genes shape your experience of mental illness, but they do not determine your destiny. With proper help, treatment, and care, people with mood disorders are able to live full, fulfilling lives. The key is being aware of your risk, taking action in advance, and seeking help when needed.
Kenneth S. Kendler and Carol A. Prescott, Genes, Environment, and Psychopathology: Understanding the Causes of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders (New York: Guilford Press, 2006), 89-112.
Barnett, Jennifer H., et al. “The Genetics of Bipolar Disorder: Recent Progress and Emerging Therapeutic Targets.” British Journal of Pharmacology 163, no. 4 (2011): 729–743. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3637882/
Özdemir, Özlem, et al. “Family History in Patients with Bipolar Disorder.” Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 27, no. 1 (2017): 56–60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5378218/
WebMD. “Bipolar Disorder: Who’s at Risk?” Accessed September 11, 2025. https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-whos-at-risk
Eli A. Stahl et al., “Genome-wide Association Study Identifies 30 Loci Associated with Bipolar Disorder,” Nature Genetics 51, no. 5 (2019): 793-803, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-019-0397-8.
Kenneth S. Kendler, “Gene-Environment Interaction in Psychiatric Disorders,” Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 7 (2011): 383-409, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032210-104518.
Major Depressive Disorder: Validated Treatments and Future Directions (Karrouri et al.). PMC (PubMed Central), 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8610877/
Wade Berrettini, “Genetics of Bipolar and Unipolar Disorders,” in Textbook of Mood Disorders, ed. Dan J. Stein et al. (Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2006), 235-248.
Ronald C. Kessler et al., “Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders in U.S. Adolescents,” J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 49, no. 10 (2010): 980–89, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946114/
