Mental Health | Ask the Geneticist (SM)

Q&A about conditions that affect the mental health of an individual that are influenced in whole or part by genetic factors. Examples include manic-depression (bipolar disease) and schizophrenia.

Other information about mental health:

-National Institute of Mental Health

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

Subtopics

Bipolar disease (manic depression) (7) General Questions on this topic (2) Miscellaneous/Unclear Diagnosis (2) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (2) Schizophrenia (3) Unipolar disease (depression) (2) No Sub-topic (0) Showing 18 questions

Displaying: All questions - use the list above to filter results.


	Question		Date



	I have a twin who is bipolar who also was labled by many professionals as the worst case they have seen including manic,narcistic sociopathic addict. We are adopted real twins I am female he is male and upon finding our roots there is another brother that too has mental illness and the biological mother had similar issues but was never tested back in the day when these labled did "not exist". And rumor has it that her father too but no one will talk about him I am terrified of my gene pool. My husband says that I put too much stock into genetics. But if it has not skipped the gene pool what are my chances passing it down. Seems to me that the females in out family pass it to the sons and males pass it to the daughters. Is there testing for such mental illness? What are my chances? Im terrified to have a child. View Answer		2009-04-13


	I have BPD I, and ADHD, and my father and paternal grandmother also have BPD I. I have a list of medications: Effexor 300 mg, Abilify 30 mg, Lamictal 200 mg, Klonipin 4 mg, Seroquel 100 mg, Adderal 60 mg. I have been relatively stable for the past three months, minus a few days that I went cold turkey due to not being able to afford meds. It was horrible and I ended up in the ER with Ativan IV to calm me down. In your opinion, am I being overmedicated. My AST/ALT have been mildly elevated lately. Also, I read that benzodiazepines supress respiratory function. I have sleep apnea (obstructive) and have had 3 sleep studies done: With Klonipin and Seroquel, without those meds, and a final with meds. During my initials my SpO2 dropped to 80%. Are these things related and should my doctor and I consider different meds for sleep? View Answer		2009-03-02


	If my mother has bipolar disorder, and she's the only one in her family that has it, what is the risk that my child will have it? My husband's family has no incidence of bipolar disorder so it's just the one case with my mother. I would like to know what the percentage chance we have that one of our children will have bipolar disorder. Also, I am 20 years old, is it possible that it just hasn't shown up in me and that I might have it too? Thank you. View Answer		2009-02-23


	My husband and I are trying to get pregnant. His mother has bipolar disorder, sleeping disorder and other physical illnesses. What is the likelihood that our baby (especially if we have a girl) would also have these mental illnesses? If acid reflux disease runs in my husband's family (both mother, father, and grandparents have it), is it very likely that our child would have that too? Greatly concerned... View Answer		2009-02-06


	I have a family history of Bi Polar II disorder, I have Bi-Polar II as did my father (suicide) and all 3 of his sisters (1 suicide). I had breast cancer at 31 and at 43. The only other family members with breast cancer are my maternal great aunts (3 of 4). My 45 yo brother had bowel cancer last year. I have also had Basal cell skin cancer. My question, is there any known genetic link? View Answer		2008-10-29


	Hello,My husband and I would like to have children however we have some concerns because my husband has Ankylosing Spondylitis (HLA-B27 gene). From various readings we have gathered that there is a 10-20% chance of having children that will develop this condition also. However we have been wondering if there is a way to prevent passing this gene on to our children. Any information on this subject would help.There is also a history of mental illness in my husband's family, more specifically three of his first cousins (all men) have been diagnosed as being bi-polar. It is noteworthy to mention that these 3 men are all on the same side of the family (mother's side) but are not siblings (all cousins between them). My husband is now 37 yrs old and has not developed any signs. We were wondering if we should be concerned about having children that may themselves be bi-polar considering this family history.Any advice concerning the above will be greatly appreciated. View Answer		2008-02-21


	I have a 5 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. There father suffered from depression and bi-polar and just a year ago committed suicide. All the men in his family also committed suicide and suffered the same mental problems. His Uncle, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, and now him. Should I be concerned about my son? He has already at a young age expressed simular behavior that his father did. Ive expressed this concern with family and my doctor but they say that hes just a young boy and it will pass, but It just scares me because thats what they said about his father and we lost him. And that seems to be taking a toll on them by itself. What should I do? View Answer		2007-11-05


	I am a female doctor from Greece and I am currently doing my residency in endocrinology. I would like to have a child in the near future but a have a great fear that my child could develop schizophrenia. This is because I have a family history regarding this illness. My brother and my unkle became symptomatic and were diagnosed with schizophrenia when they were around 20 years old. Is there a possibility for prenatal testing regarding schizophrenia? What would the cost of this testing be? View Answer		2007-08-03


	Future generation of mentally disorder people is also suffer with same ? I wanted to marry a girl whose father & Mother are suffering from mental disorder. And also my forefather's(father of grandfather) were also suffered from same disorder. If i marry her, is there any problem to my future generation? If so what is the probability of that? Will you suggest me to marry her? View Answer		2007-06-29


	I have been suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder since I was a boy. I was put on the drug clomipramine only when I was 21 after which the symptoms have lessened. I am planning to have a child. My wife is normal. I would like to know wether this disease is genetically linked and if so whether my child can inherit the disease. View Answer		2007-05-07


	I come from a very long line of mentally disordered people (sociopathic, bipolar etc), also learning disabilities and sensory issues, with many physical conditions as well, such as insomnia, degenerative disc disease, and autoimmune disorders. both of my parents are bipolar etc. i have made the decision not to have children due to the high risk of inherited mental disorders on the part of my child. what are your feelings on this, and have you ever dealth with a person whom has chosen adoption over procreation when dealing with such issues as mine. View Answer		2007-04-13


	Hi, ok here is my question. I went to the doctor the other day for a normal check-up, i am 8 months pregnant. I have been so scared of getting cancer or some other termialy ill disease and dying it is consuming my entire life. My doctor says it is obsessive complusive behavoir, and says that usually cancer comes from genetics, and if there was something SERIOUSLY wrong with me, i would know by now because i have had so much blood work done with being pregnant?! is this true? he thinks i need to go and talk to someone, should i? i have never been this way before..EVER View Answer		2006-09-19


	what relation is there between chromosome 13 and child onset schizophrenia. how is this chromosome damaged to cause COS. what are the symtoms associated with chromosome 13 and COS. what if schizophrenia runs in the farthers family. View Answer		2006-01-25


	We may have depression in our family, I have it. I was wondering about (1) my son having it and (2) I notice my mother's pupils, like mine are constricted, is this related, or what might it indicate? BR>It might have been on my fathers side (mother) and my mother's side (uncle). View Answer		2005-12-29


	Depression runs in my family. Should I be worried about this for myself or my children? View Answer		2005-09-14


	Is genetic testing available to determine if someone will have a child with a mental illness? View Answer		2005-09-14


	Is mental illness inherited? View Answer		2005-09-14


	My husband and I are considering adopting a child whose birthfather has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. What are the chances that the child will also develop schizophrenia? View Answer		2005-09-14

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