Is mental illness hereditary?

Mental illness is a common mental illness. There are many causes of mental illness, among which the most important is genetic factors. If parents or grandparents have a history of mental illness, there is a possibility of inheritance. Of course, in addition to the genetic method, mental illness is also related to many factors such as society, work, and daily psychology. If you have a mental illness, you must seek treatment as soon as possible.

Is mental illness hereditary?

Many medical researchers believe that mental illness is a disease that is difficult to treat. If some mental patients get sick, they may wonder whether mental illness has a genetic effect. The treatment of mental illness should be taken seriously. Because some people do not understand the pathology of mental illness, or even do not know the relevant knowledge at all, they worry that mental illness may be hereditary. It sounds a bit unbelievable, but there are real examples of this happening in real life. So is mental illness really hereditary? Experts point out that mental illness actually has a certain genetic relationship, and the closer the blood relationship, the greater the chance of inheritance.

Among various mental illnesses, the possible risk rate of schizophrenia in first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients is about 4%-14%, which is about 10 times that of the general population. If both parents have schizophrenia, the incidence rate of their children is as high as 40%. For example, the incidence rate of depression in patients and their relatives is 30 times higher than that of the general population, and about 50% of patients with depression have a family history of depression. The probability of relatives of patients with bipolar I disorder suffering from the disease is 8-18 times higher than that of the normal population. If one parent is ill, the probability of their children suffering from the disease is 25%. If both parents are ill, the probability of their children suffering from the disease can be as high as 50%-70%.

Family studies have found that the closer the blood relationship, the higher the incidence rate. It is well recognized that mental disorders are hereditary. However, although genetic factors are important in the occurrence of certain mental disorders, the influence of the acquired environment and various psychosocial factors are more important. The treatment of mental illness should be taken seriously. It is currently believed that the inheritance of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, affective disorders and neurosis only makes individuals genetically susceptible, but does not necessarily lead to the disease. People with genetic susceptibility may not show signs of illness throughout their lives.

Precautions

Family members, friends and other people who come into contact with patients with mental illness must learn some self-protection skills: 1. Do not pay excessive attention to or ask questions about patients who are in an irritable or excited state. 2. When the patient is angry with you, do not have a direct conflict with him. 3. Patients should not be ridiculed or discriminated against. 4. For patients whose symptoms are relatively stable, they should be urged to take medication, follow up, and pay attention to the signs of relapse. 5. If a patient is found to have a tendency to relapse of mental symptoms, he or she should be sent for treatment promptly. If necessary, he or she may be forced to be hospitalized with the assistance of multiple people. 6. When interacting with a patient who has a history of violence and is currently in the onset of an illness, it is best not to be in a position where the patient can attack you head-on, and it is best to have someone else present who can provide assistance when necessary. 7. The patient's reasonable demands should be met as much as possible. If this is really impossible, you can discuss with him in a gentle tone and give explanations.