Family history of depression major risk factor in developing condition
Posted August 18, 2010 9:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ever wonder if a family history of depression increases your risk of developing the disorder?
According to a U.S. study, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, a family history of depression is in fact the strongest risk factor for depression.
However, Dr. Weissman, the study’s lead doctor, told 680News that some people can escape it.
“[…] Sometimes you see depression where there’s no family history but if you look at it overall a family history of depression is a very strong predicament.”
Dr. Weissman added the study looked at depression in more than three generations of families.
“We’ve looked at the grandparents, we started there and we followed their children and we’re now looking at the grandchildren. And we see a very strong, what we call a family loading.”
Researchers also found that depression is twice as common in women as it is in men.
