Wender (1990) - Biological explanations of depression

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of mood disorders.

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

Adoptive and biological relatives of 71 adult adoptees with mood disorders, as well as 71 adult’s adoptees who were psychologically normal.

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

Psychiatric evaluations of the relatives were made by independent blind diagnoses of mental hospital and other official records.

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

8x increase in unipolar depression among the biological relatives of the adults.

15x increase in suicide among the biological relatives of the adopted adults.

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

There is a significant genetic link between unipolar depression and suicide.