Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Jen
Wow am I in the wrong thread  so much science! offhand though, how would you disprove the theories of genetic links. I mean, are there people who suffer with MI that don't have family and genetic links. My mom had issues, her father had stuff. I mean with the prevelance of MI today, how can we know what is genetically predetermined and what is just (pardon me) life crap we can't handle. |
I think it is both. Not everyone with MI has a genetic/ biological predisposition. If they were to discover and understand well the genetic markers of lets say bi polar and then tested your genes and you didn't have them then it would be another cause. Although with bi polar I think there is more evidence for genetic and biological causes. Depression is a much broader term with much more variance in causes.
The thing is childhood abuse, neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, trauma, all cause changes in brain structure and function. May even effect how genes express themselves. It is especially true in children who's brains are in crucial stages of development. But it is even true in a 22 year old combat veteran who experienced severe trauma and stress in combat. It will produce changes in the brain. The brain is very fluid and plastic. It changes all the time. Exercise, CBT, and meditation can change structure and function in a good way. It is believed antidepressants cause growth of new neurons and connections in the hippocampus. Its a very complicated picture and no easy answer. This thread was just focusing on some of the hard science going on in the area of psychiatry.