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Is Depression Contagious?

Although much about depression remains unknown, it has been determined that depression in any form is not contagious. According to The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness (Bodie Morey, et al; 2007), depression is caused by changes in brain chemistry.

  1. Types

    • Types of depression include major or unipolar depression, bipolar depression, and dysthmia ("minor depression"). None of these can be caught from another person.

    Considerations

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, all types of depression may be partially caused by genes. It is possible that a person may produce children that inherit depression.

    Causes

    • Contagious illnesses are spread by chemicals, such as bacteria or fungal spores. There are no such contagions given off by a person with any form of depression.

    Misconception

    • People living with a depressed person may feel sad, but only because they are worried about the affected person. Loved ones without depression will not feel depressed all of the time.

    Warning

    • The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness cautions that people without depression may blame a person with depression for "making me feel depressed, too." This kind of statement may make a person with depression feel worse.

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