Posted by Larry Hoover on December 5, 2003, at 20:34:47
In reply to Re: physical illness leading to mental illness, posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 18:44:02
> Actually, part of me would love that because insurance companies and society would HAVE to pay more attention to mental health.
>
> However, how are they explaining a history of mental health issues in families? Sometimes skipping generations? And with the ability to passed along from either parent to the child? (though the probabilities are different) I wish I knew more about genetics to answer my own question...You're asking good questions. The thing is, genes also determine susceptible to disease, through regulation of the immune system. You're going to be remarkably similar to your parents in immune reactivity....and your family may also serve as hosts to disease... providing not only a vulnerable immune system but also a source of infection as well. If the chronic virus theory of mental illness is valid, this alone might explain family mental health trends.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:286863
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031202/msgs/286968.html