Is depression hereditary?

There is a whole range of factors involved in the onset of mental disorders, which cannot be considered in isolation: biology (including genetics and epigenetics), psychology, environment, context, life situation, personal history and social factors all play a part in the onset and development of disorders. All these factors interact: environmental parameters can sometimes give rise to disorders with biological consequences.
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Is depression hereditary?

Depression is not a hereditary disease and cannot be passed on. However, there is a predisposition to developing this disorder in people who carry genetic variants, most of which are still unknown today. This genetic predisposition partly explains family cases. It is estimated that a person with one parent who has suffered from an MDE is 2 to 4 times more likely to be depressed than the general population.

This predisposition is compounded by an environmental ‘trigger’ factor, which is very often a situation of intense stress such as the death of a close relative, a relationship breakdown or a situation of social exclusion such as job loss.

Depression is often characterised by multiple major depressive episodes, spaced out over time. The risk of relapse after a 1st MDE is estimated at 60%, rising to 90% after the 3rd episode.