Are Depression And Alcoholism Genetic?

Major depressive disorder (depression) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are both mental health conditions.

Like other mental health conditions, their risk factors include genetics, circumstances, experiences, and environment.

Here you’ll find information on the genetic factors that can increase a person’s susceptibility to depression and AUD.

Genetics Of Major Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders around the world.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States. According to the CDC, approximately 18.5% of U.S. adults reported experiencing depression symptoms in 2023.

Symptoms of depression include persistent sadness, emotional numbness, and feelings of hopelessness.

Twin studies have estimated that major depression is approximately 40% to 50% heritable, according to research published in peer-reviewed psychiatric literature, suggesting a meaningful but not deterministic genetic contribution.

Rather, researchers believe that multiple genes, and the expression of those genes, contribute to a person’s risk of depression.

Genetics Of Alcoholism

AUD is characterized by excessive, debilitating alcohol consumption, even when the person experiences negative consequences due to drinking.

European and American research shows that alcohol use disorder is indeed a genetic condition.

The National Library of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), notes that specific genes, namely ADH1B and ALDH2, have been implicated in the risk of developing this condition.

Researchers continue to study other genome variants that may contribute to substance use disorders.

Other Family History Factors

While genes do contribute to both depression and AUD, other factors can cause a higher prevalence of these disorders among family members.

Environmental factors can increase the risk of psychiatric disorders.

For example, trauma may lead people to misuse drugs and alcohol, and multiple family members may experience the same source of trauma.

Having a family member who experiences alcohol use disorder can also be a source of trauma, which can perpetuate a generational cycle of drinking.

Likewise, drinking alcohol at a young age is a risk factor for AUD.

When an older family member experiences alcohol use disorder, the children in that home may have easy access to alcohol, and they may begin drinking early as a result.

The Link Between Depression And Substance Use Disorder

Depression and substance use disorder also have links to each other. They often occur together as a dual diagnosis.

Generally, people with mental health disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, experience higher rates of substance use than those without these conditions.

It is unclear whether one disorder directly causes the other, but they do frequently reinforce each other, forming a feedback loop.

Some people with depression self-medicate with alcohol or other substances to temporarily relieve emotional pain.

However, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can worsen depression symptoms over time. It disrupts sleep, depletes serotonin, and increases feelings of hopelessness. This creates a reinforcing cycle that makes both conditions harder to treat.

If I Have An Alcohol Addiction, Will My Children Also Have Alcohol Problems?

While both alcohol addiction and depression have genetic components, your children are not guaranteed to experience addiction if you have this condition yourself.

While there is a link between genetics and alcohol use, whether or not a person develops an AUD depends on much more than their chromosomes or phenotype.

As a matter of fact, less than half of the people whose parents have an AUD develop an AUD themselves.

By seeking treatment for alcohol addiction and remaining open about your challenges with your healthcare provider, you can help break the substance use disorder cycle.

Treating Depression And Alcohol Use Disorder Together

When depression and alcohol use disorder co-occur, integrated dual diagnosis treatment, which addresses both conditions at once, produces significantly better outcomes than treating one condition at a time.

Treatment may include a combination of FDA-approved medications for AUD, antidepressants where appropriate, and behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has strong evidence for both conditions.

Get Help For Addiction

All forms of substance use disorder, including alcohol addiction, are difficult and complex. However, they are treatable conditions.

If you or a loved one needs substance use disorder care, contact Addiction Resource today to find treatment services.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff