+353 (1) 685 6929 Knowing that you have a genetic predisposition to depression can shed a lot of light on the treatment of certain symptoms and help alleviate a condition which can sometimes be debilitating.
Depression (aka depressive disorder) can be defined as a state of aversion or low mood that can hamper a person’s behavior, physical well-being, thought, and feelings in a negative way. A depressed person can feel seriously or partially empty, hopeless, sad, restless, guilty, irritable, worried, and worthless. Depressed people can experience a serious loss of appetite and can feel lonely at times. There can be some severe loss in concentration, insomnia, energy loss, digestive disorder, and even suicidal attempts faced by people of serious depression. However, depression is not any type of psychiatric disorder. In fact, it is quite normal in human beings. It can happen due to some particular life events, or because of some negative side effects of medical treatment or even medicine intake.
Different types
Depressive disorders are of the following types:
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Major depressive disorder (aka major depression)
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Psychotic depression
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Dysthymic disorder (aka dysthymia)
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SAD (seasonal affective disorder)
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Postpartum depression (aka postnatal depression)
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Bipolar disorder (aka manic-depressive illness)
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Genes involved in causing depression
Each and every part of the human body (that also includes brain) is controlled through genes. It is the gene that helps in creating proteins required for biological proceedings. If the genes stop functioning in a proper way, then they result in hampering the mood and creating a negative mental state. The human mood is affected by several genes. And remember, genetic endowments do differ from one human being to another. Therefore, depressions will also differ. There are certain variants of serotonin-transporter gene (5-HTT) that cause depressive disorder to human beings in response to any stressful situation. Another gene responsible for causing depression is CRHR1. It is a corticotropin-releasing hormone based gene that results in causing massive stress disorder. In fact, variation in a certain DNA sequence, G1463A, is also responsible for causing depression.
Genetic predisposition to depression
Genetic link to disposition to a depressive disorder is presently in forefront of genetic and medical studies. Certain questions are often faced by experts while dealing with this particular branch of medical science:
Is there any chance of depressive disorder being genetic? Or is that depressive disorder genetically inherited from family members and ancestors?
Is there some sort of genetic predisposition to depression? Or are there some sort of suicide genes that can cause such disorder?
According to a particular section of medical research team, isolating certain brain parts and genes responsible for depressive disorder can lead to positive results. However, some other medical labs have claimed that it is environment which has the ability to alter genes. This can result in causing genetic predisposition to depression or some other similar mental illnesses. Recently a medical survey has claimed that presence of toxins or vitamin deficiency is responsible for mental illness.
Conclusion
Depression can be treated effectively and easily. No matter how severe the depressive disorder form is, it can be treated through certain medical practices and medicines. However, the faster the treatment starts, better it is for the patient. In fact studies have shown that if treated at the earliest stage in a proper way, then chances of recurrence is minimal.