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Are There Any Genetic Tests That Can Tell Me My Risk For Becoming Depressed?

Question: Are there any genetic tests that can tell me my risk for becoming depressed?

Answer: At this point, there is no biological genetic test, there's no imaging that we can do that will really tell us your risk for getting depressed.

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The best way, the best test, is to ask whether your parents were depressed, and whether you're going through a life stress -- then the probability of being depressed is markedly increased. For your children, if either parent, mother or father were depressed, there's about a three-fold chance of the child becoming depressed or anxious, and especially after adolescence.

But at the moment, the best is a verbal inquiry by a knowledgeable clinician.

Next: Are There Any Medical Conditions That Increase My Risk Of Developing Depression?

Previous: Have Any Genes For Depression Been Discovered?

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