Inessa Manevich,Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
310.804.6339
  • Home
  • Services
  • Rates and Insurance
  • Blog
  • Publications
  • Office Location
  • Contact

Mental Illness--Do We Pass It On?

7/30/2012

0 Comments

 
A great NYT magazine article explains the interplay of genetics and  environmental factors on inheritance of mental illness, specifically depression. This piece is written in first person by a mother who has struggles with depression throughout her entire life, and examines what effect, if any, her episodic hospitalizations for depression might have had on her daughter's mental health. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-depression-inherited.html?pagewanted=all

In the age of genetic exploration, one often hears the concern of parents and non-parents alike that whatever mental health issues the individual may be struggling with
(particularly with the more acute illnesses) will be invariably passed on to the offspring. As the article points out, for some people this is enough of a reason to foreclose on the idea of having children entirely. This concern  is understandable particularly given the preponderance of studies that link genetics to a large number of illness and even personality characteristics. It is important to note, however, that the majority of these studies speak to a genetic predisposition, or the underlying risk of developing a certain disorder, and not the inevitability of getting the disorder. Various environmental factors, such as parenting skills, the nature of the parental relationship and resource availability, just to name a few,  play a huge role on whether or not an individual will develop a disorder, even when they may have a genetic predisposition for the disorder. 

Additionally, the way that a parent handles his or her own mental health problems, or any adverse event for that matter, can be invaluable on how the child views themselves and the world. Witnessing resiliency, determination and self-care in their parents may be a great protective factor, and lesson for the child struggling with adversity. While an individual's personality and subsequent functioning appear to be the result of a mixture of both genetic and environmental factors, it is important to remember that parents are the child's first guides to this world, and the way that they choose to present the various positive and negative aspects of this world, will have an indelible impact on the child interpretation and perspective of the world at large.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Dr. Inessa Manevich

    *Information in this blog is for educational purposes only and should NOT be used as a substitute for professional therapy*

    Archives

    May 2019
    April 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

1150 Yale St, Suite 2 | Santa Monica, CA 90403 | 310.804.6339 | dr.imanevich@gmail.com
Photos used under Creative Commons from Horia Varlan, mccun934, NDrewC, Drew Selby, Digo_Souza, Ryk Neethling, thetaxhaven, Tim Geers, Kurayba, James Jordan, Benimoto, juliejordanscott, AZAdam, _Zeta_, Mae Chevrette, DryHundredFear, oxcnpxo, h.koppdelaney, Renaud Camus, ePublicist, Bev Goodwin, Skyline Group, One Way Stock, lydia_shiningbrightly, OpenSkyMedia, LadyDragonflyCC - >;<, Nina J. G., Sarahsvati #1, arnold | inuyaki, Identity Photogr@phy, jking89, A. Pagliaricci ♦, wwarby, rselph, symphony of love, Milica Sekulic, Renato Ganoza