Is depression hereditary?

[Smowball]

In other words, does in run in families?

[magsmay]

@Smowball -you said Depression - this is a mental illness. I've also got 4 children -three well out of their teens and one just going into theirs -and each one was different. After reading archived posts on your relationship problems its easy to conclude that your son has gone through a lot of family problems this last year and perhaps you need to address these things that are troubling him instead of blaming his biological father for giving him a difficult personality? This next bit sounds awful but is posted not vindictively but to put things in perspective: You have posted in the last year that among other things your current partner has left you, assaulted both you and your son and called him names, your son has been witness to these things and is supposed to come through that unscathed? If you address your problems like you do when you post them - full on panic then silence -then a LOL! everything is ok now -he must get a very distorted view of what life has in store for him as an adult. Sorry this has gone a bit off course but I really feel your Son's actions are a direct response to what is going on between you and your OH.

[ummmm]

I can't find where Smow has said that she's talking about her youngest son.

[magsmay]

Hi Ummmm - I think I just presumed she was talking about the same one as in her previous post -also was not aware she had other children at the time. She had plenty of opportunity to put me straight that it was not her youngest son and didn't so again presumed it was him -perhaps lady -i presume too much ;-) maybe the OP can clarify this?

[Smowball]

magsmay - I dont recall blaming my sons father for anything?? I merely asked if depression was hereditary, as my son is incredibly like him in many many ways personality wise, even though he hasnt lived with him since he was tiny. That was it.

[magsmay]

@smowball - well then hopefully some of the answers on here will have helped you decide -if not type into Google 'is depression hereditary' and you will get some sound medical evidence that both supports and contradicts the question.