Even people who don't know much about mental health often notice that individuals with depression seem to be also prone to other psychiatric conditions.
A new study shows that it might be true - our genes make us more prone to some kinds of mental health issues.
Let's find out more.
The correlation between genes and mental conditions
A study by Aarhus University reveals that the genetic risk of depression is linked to an elevated genetic risk of other psychiatric conditions.
The research involved analyzing the genomes of 1.3 million individuals, over 370,000 of whom had experienced depression.
The research findings revealed a noteworthy connection: individuals who have undergone hospital treatment for depression face a heightened chance of encountering other mental health conditions like substance abuse, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders due to their inherent genetic tendencies.
To illustrate, consider the case of individuals who have received hospital treatment for depression and possess a significant genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder. In this scenario, their likelihood of experiencing bipolar disorder skyrockets to a staggering 32 times that of the broader population.
Likewise, the risk of schizophrenia is 14 times higher in people with depression and a high genetic predisposition to it.
Why it might be helpful
The study could enable early diagnosis, treatment, and preventative measures for high-risk individuals in the future.
Additionally, it provides insights into new molecular targets for treatment.
