Blame the genes if you're unhappy
Ever imagined what sorrow looks like or how a depressed person feels from inside? One might look happy from outside but deep down the story may be is different. In India depression is considered to be a contingent mental illness, often treated as a taboo. However, it’s not accidental at all.
Scientists in Australia have found that parents who are stressed can pass on depression to their children and grandchildren.
The study published in the journal ‘Translational Psychiatry’, based on experiments with mice, which were fed stress hormones, examined the behaviour of the first and second generations of offspring. It found that the later generations showed signs of depression. Such behaviour may be passed on via molecules called “microRNAs”, which affect genetic outcomes.
It is difficult for a lot of people to talk about depression. But those who go through these issues often point to family members with similar problems.
Dr Jitendra Nagpal, Director of Moolchand Medcity, Delhi, says, “There are 20 to 30 per cent chances that a child develops symptoms of depression if one of the parents is suffering from it. However, if both parents suffer from depression, then the chances are almost 50 per cent.”
Research on the heredity of depression within families shows that some individuals are more likely to develop the illness than others. If you have a parent or sibling who has had major depression, you may be 1.5 to 3 times more likely to develop the condition. You would also have a higher chance of developing bipolar disorder as close relatives of those with clinical depression are vulnerable to developing the condition themselves.
Dr Nagpal adds, “When a child shows symptoms of continuous denial of food, lack of sleep, consistent crying, lethargic attitude, it’s time to consult a doctor. There are also chances that later on they become victims of drug abuse. They might also suffer from excessive mood swings.”
Both environmental and genetic factors are behind depression and a combination is also a possibility. Researchers in the US say they have identified 17 genetic variations that increase the risk of a person developing depression. Roy Perlis of Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, says, “Depression is about biology and I think that will be helpful for some people in reducing the stigma around it.”
Of the 3,00,000 people studied, 75,607 self-reported clinical diagnosis of depression or were receiving treatment for it.
Director of Fortis Hospital, Delhi, Dr Samir Parikh, says, “Women are more prone to depression. One woman in every four suffers from depression, whereas, one man in every 10 has it. However, this is not a panic situation as good medical care is available if a child is diagnosed and treated in time.”
One can work on the environmental area to avoid depression. Dr Koushik Sinha Deb, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, Delhi says, “Physical activities such as running, swimming, and doing yoga help in dealing with stress better, which escalates depression.
Eating and sleeping on time and avoiding substance abuse also go a long way.” Eating leafy green vegetables, walnuts, tomatoes and apples has been found to help.