Is Utah's Depression Epidemic Genetic?
I've wondered for a while now if Utah's shallow gene pool wasn't partly to blame for its high rate of depression and suicide. Some mental illnesses, such as bipolar, seem to run in families. And before any of you get defensive and call me a bigot, my family has been breeding within the confines of Mormonism for as long as the religion has existed. I'm as much a product of Utah's near-miss inbreeding as anyone.
Genetic or not, I don't think this lets the church of the hook. After all, Mormon doctrine is clear that the faithful should only marry and procreate with active, tithe-paying, temple-going members if they want to be with their families in the afterlife. That sure doesn't leave a big group to choose from.
Genetic or not, I don't think this lets the church of the hook. After all, Mormon doctrine is clear that the faithful should only marry and procreate with active, tithe-paying, temple-going members if they want to be with their families in the afterlife. That sure doesn't leave a big group to choose from.
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Hmm...Now you've got me thinking about what it would take to do a study to test this hypothesis. What would be the target group and what would be the comparison (control) group? Sixth and seventh generation Mormons? Only ones that live in Utah, or both in and out? And compare them to the general US population? Hmm....We'd have to control for certain things too.
What info we have about the genetic components of depression show that it's a mix of genes and environment (e.g. non-biological influence). For example, if people have a certain short allele, they are more likely to get depression if triggered by negative life events or other outside factors, compared to those without the allele and the same life events. But even people without the allele can get depression too, given negative life events (it may just take more of them). So it's hardly cut-and-dry.
Interesting question, though. I'll have to think some more about it.
Thanks, from the ashes. Now if only I had the resources to fund such a study. :)
Maybe im just cynical, (or maybe just biased from years of personal experience with massive religiously caused depression) but i put the blame squarely on mormonism. I wouldnt be surprised to find there was a genetic link, but i also wouldnt be surprised to find there isnt any. (aside from the theorised caucasion genetic pre-disposistion to depression)