No Evidence for a Genetic Link to Depression

Neurocritic – Myth of the Depression Gene:

“But does anyone still believe that complex psychiatric disorders are caused by a single gene? I think not. The field of psychiatry genetics is littered with examples of “a gene for schizophrenia” and “the gene for bipolar disorder” that have failed to replicate. Even the most ardent proponents have become more circumspect about the search for genes that predispose one to specific mental illnesses.

Hey oncologists: where’s “the gene” for cancer? Neurologists, have you found “the gene” for Alzheimer’s disease yet? No? Why not? Because they’re complex multidetermined diseases. Does that mean there is no role for genetic contributions to these disorders? Of course not!”