If you or someone in your family live with a mental illness, it’s normal to want to understand more about the condition. This includes its origins, treatment, and whether it can be passed through genes.
Genes are segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the biological “blueprints” for the proteins that form the building blocks of our cells. DNA is passed down from biological parents and can contribute to a person’s appearance, personality, and health.
As anyone qualified through an RN to FNP program knows, many health conditions can be hereditary, like diabetes and heart disease. Hereditary refers to a condition or attribute that can be genetically transmitted from a biological parent to their offspring.
Recent studies have found that psychiatric disorders tend to run in families, suggesting a genetic component, so they can be hereditary. These include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.
How is mental health hereditary?
According to research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), mental illnesses are typically caused by a combination of four factors:
● Genetics
● Biology
● Environmental factors
● Psychological factors
When exploring if mental health is hereditary, the answer isn’t easy. To a degree, mental illnesses and disorders in most cases aren’t directly caused by genes but increase the risk factor for developing them.
Genes increase the risk factor for mental illnesses and disorders in a variety of ways. This includes gene variations causing predisposition, gene-environment interactions, polygenic influences, epigenetics, and neurotransmitter regulation.
Gene variation, predisposition, and polygenic influences
According to research, some mental illnesses, like schizophrenia and depression, tend to run in families. So, if someone in a family has it, everyone else is at a higher risk of developing it from an environmental or psychological trigger.
Certain gene variations in a person, which can be passed on biologically from a parent, can increase the chance of developing a mental health condition. Most mental health conditions that are hereditary, however, are “polygenic”.
Mental health conditions being polygenic means they aren’t caused by one specific gene, but multiple genes contribute to the risk. No single gene causes predisposition, but small variations in multiple genes collectively increase the risk.
Mental health conditions being polygenic is also why genetic tests can’t accurately predict an individual’s risk of developing a mental disorder. To determine if a mental illness runs in your family, it is best to look at your family’s health history and speak to a professional.
What is epigenetics?
Epigenetics is an emerging area of scientific research, covering how environmental factors can actually affect and essentially “rewrite” a person’s genes. Epigenetics disproves the idea that genetics are “set in stone”, and the Nature vs. Nurture debate is over—both are true!
Especially during formative years, like childhood, if an individual experiences chronic stress or trauma, epigenetic changes can affect genes that are linked to mental health. These include stress responses, brain plasticity, and mood regulation.
These changes to the genes, especially for stress responses and mood regulation can increase the risk of mental disorders like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Neurotransmitter regulation and mental health
Gene variations have been linked to the regulation of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. These are crucial for mood regulation and cognitive function.
Disruption in neurotransmitters, especially when influenced by genetic variations, can contribute to the development of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
For example, a study conducted at the University of Barcelona found that 67 genes related to dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission play an important role in at least psychiatric disorders.
What mental illnesses and disorders can be genetic?
Several mental illnesses and disorders have been found to have genetic components. So, there is a chance they can run in families, being passed on by a biological parent.
Below, we’ve outlined a few of the mental illnesses and disorders. Keep in mind, however, that a predisposition due to genes doesn’t mean an individual will develop a disorder—it means an increased risk.
- Schizophrenia
- Personality Disorders (e.g., Borderline Personality Disorder)
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Eating Disorders (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa)
- Substance Use Disorders
- Neurodegenerative Disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease)
What if a mental disorder runs in the family?
If an individual in your family has a mental disorder, it increases the chance of other members of the family having the same disorder. Even if a disorder runs in a family, however, the symptoms and severity can greatly vary.
What to do if you suspect a mental disorder
If you suspect that you or a loved one is living with a mental disorder, it’s recommended to speak to a professional like a doctor or psychologist. Even if there is a family history, it’s important to be properly diagnosed by an expert in the field.
Some mental disorder symptoms may overlap, for instance, with anxiety and depression. So, while recognizing the symptoms in yourself is important, seeking professional help is also critical for accessing the proper management and treatment.
Statistics from the CDC report that more than 1 in 5 adults in the United States live with a mental illness. Mental illnesses are extremely common, and one of the most frequent health issues in the country.
References:
Wu, T. et. Al. (2023) Epigenetic regulation of neurotransmitter signaling in neurological disorders. Neurobiology of Disease; 184: 106232.
Andreassen, O. A. et. Al. (2023) New insights from the last decade of research in psychiatric genetics: discoveries, challenges and clinical implications. World Psychiatry; 22(1): 4–24.
Cabana, J. et. Al. (2022) Comprehensive exploration of the genetic contribution of the dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways to psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry; 12: 11.
Wang, T. et. Al. (2017) Polygenic risk for five psychiatric disorders and cross-disorder and disorder-specific neural connectivity in two independent populations. NeuroImage: Clinical; 14: 441-449.
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