Many people have heard the idea that mental illnesses “run in the family,” and this can cause a great deal of worry. Yet understanding the causes of mood disorders, like depression and bipolar disorder, requires a nuanced evaluation of both genetic and environmental factors.
In terms of mental health, the nature vs. nurture debate tends to roughly result in a tie. This is because there is a large amount of evidence that suggests both of these factors contribute to the development of mental health diagnoses.
It may certainly be useful to know if your family has a history of mood disorders, as this may predispose you, but this link isn’t clear-cut. Each person’s history, experiences, and genetics will influence whether they develop a mood disorder in unique ways.
So, to answer the question, “Are mood disorders genetic?” this page will discuss both the environmental and genetic causes of mood disorders. It also covers the signs of mood disorders and the ways you might be able to keep poor mental health at bay.
Before we get to the genetic causes of mood disorders and the role of environment in their development, the following sections explore:
Mood disorders are a common type of mental health condition, characterized by emotional disruption. There are several types, each involving extreme lows, highs, or a combination of both. This category includes:1
Bipolar I: Characterized by at least one severe manic episode, bipolar I may involve elevated mood, racing thoughts, reckless behaviors, and grandiosity.
As well as these symptoms, mood disorders can significantly reduce sleep and appetite and cause challenges in people’s relationships, work, school, and social lives.1
Diagnosing mood disorders can sometimes be difficult if they are confused with personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), and psychotic conditions, like schizophrenia. This is due to overlapping symptoms such as impulsivity and delusions, which can appear in all of these conditions.1
Overlapping symptoms should become easier to attribute to single mental health diagnoses in time, as crucial differences can be observed. For example, people with personality disorders will have consistent symptoms, while those with mood disorders will likely experience their symptoms in episodes. Furthermore, unlike people with depression and bipolar disorder, those with psychotic conditions may not experience mood symptoms at all.1
Treatments for Mood Disorders
People with bipolar disorder may be prescribed lithium or valproic acid, which are types of mood stabilizers. They may also be prescribed antipsychotic medications if episodes are particularly severe. For depression, there are many medications available, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and both atypical and tricyclic antidepressants.1
Alongside medication, several types of psychotherapy have been found to be helpful for people with mood disorders. For instance, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and interpersonal therapy all have notable benefits for treating mood symptoms and relational difficulties.1
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
We’ll explore these different elements next.
Other studies into twins and adopted children found that genetic factors make a strong contribution to psychiatric health, too. For instance, research investigated the differences between people with and without bipolar to understand why some people develop the condition. It found that up to 70% of these differences were attributable to genetics, which means that genes explain most of the differences between people who do and don’t develop bipolar.2 Similarly, depression genetic factors can explain about 40% of the differences between people who do and do not develop depression.2
While these findings show that genetics plays a large part in the development of mood disorders, they don’t paint the whole picture.
Mental health disorders do not follow typical patterns of inheritance like physical health conditions, and some people’s depression may not be caused by genetics at all.3,4 For these reasons, it’s very important to identify the other factors that can influence these conditions.
Mood disorder research finds that there are epigenetic processes that increase the risk of developing these conditions, triggered by things like events and relationships in childhood.3 Environmental risk factors include:1,4
Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
To explore these ideas further, we’ll now discuss the idea of mood disorders “running in the family,” which combines the different causal factors we’ve mentioned so far.
Though some depression will be hereditary, the climate of a family system is hugely influential on mental illness and emotional difficulties.
While positive family relationships can be protective against emotional and behavioral problems, dysfunctional family relationships can cause or worsen mental illness.5 This may be one reason why mental illness seems to “run in families.” Genetic factors aside, the family’s attitudes, patterns, and relationships can cause significant difficulties.
For instance, the following family factors have been connected with psychiatric challenges:5
Conflict or abuse between parents
These factors create a distressing environment for children, but they may also impart certain attitudes towards emotions, coping, and receiving help that worsen emotional health. For example, extremely critical parents may impose the beliefs that I must cope alone or I am not worthy of love, which can contribute to feelings of depression.
We all learn how to be in the world from our caregivers. If our parents don’t rewrite their own unhelpful beliefs about self-care and asking for help, they may pass them down to the next generation. In this way, mental health conditions may seem to “run in families” genetically, while it is actually their harmful attitudes that are passed down through parenting.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mood Disorders support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
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If you know that you have a family history of mood disorders, you might worry Are mood disorders genetic? and fear that you’ll develop one too. While it may be helpful to know that you could be predisposed, this isn’t a black-and-white situation. Some people who are predisposed will never develop a mood disorder. Maintaining a healthy awareness of the signs and taking protective steps for your mental well-being can help offset their development. We cover these elements next.
The following symptoms may indicate a mood disorder:6
Feelings of sadness or depression that last for a long time or keep coming back
Some of these symptoms may arise from a period of chronic stress; they don’t necessarily mean you’ve inherited bipolar disorder or depression. If you’re worried, speak to your doctor. They’ll be able to evaluate your symptoms alongside lifestyle factors and your family history to give you a more concrete answer.
For instance, getting regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, prioritizing sleep, setting goals, and engaging in hobbies can have a big impact overall.8 Furthermore, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol are known to be closely related to depression. So, limiting these factors may help keep depression at bay.9
While your genes have a lot of power, they don’t have the final say. At AMFM (A Mission for Michael), we understand that mood disorders are influenced by many complex factors. This is why our mental health screenings and treatments consider everything from your family history to your life experiences and unique needs.
We offer both outpatient and residential care, both of which can be personalized to your unique situation. In our residential facilities, you’ll encounter a safe and nurturing environment for you to focus on recovery and building a better future.
Contact us today to ask any questions about our services, treatments, and costs.
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