NEWS Health News If Depression Runs in Your Family, You May Feel Fatigue and Chronic Pain By Sofia Quaglia Sofia Quaglia Twitter Sofia Quaglia is a science and health writer based between Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Learn about our editorial process Published on October 25, 2021 Fact checked by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print Malte Mueller / Getty Images Key Takeaways Research is increasingly associating clinical depression with a set of specific genes.A new meta-analysis now shows that people who have a higher genetic risk of depression are also more likely to have physical symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue.Further studying these findings could be helpful to create better diagnoses and treatments for people with depression. For some people with depression, getting out of bed in the morning can be a difficult task. Some with the condition even report feeling physical pain. Now, researchers are increasingly interested in exploring that mind-body connection a bit deeper. New research by University of Queensland scientists shows that people who have a higher genetic risk of depression are also more likely to have physical symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue. The October study was published in JAMA Psychiatry. This meta-analysis, aimed at better understanding the biological background of depression, shows why looking at patients holistically, and assessing all their symptoms, including physical ones, is crucial for tackling depression. What This Means For You If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and isn't sure where to get help, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's confidential, free, and runs 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year. It's available in English and Spanish. If you call this helpline, they can give you referrals to local treatment centers, support groups, and other organizations. The Relationship Between Genetics and Depression “Genetics plays an important role in depression,” Enda Byrne, PhD, a researcher in psychiatric genetics at the University of Queensland and lead study author, tells Verywell. Understanding which genes are specifically involved allows researchers to better understand who is at a higher genetic risk for depression. Study: More Free Time Won’t Always Make You Happier “It was observed a long time ago that people who have a first-degree relative with depression are at increased risk of depression,” Byrne says. “But until recently, we knew little about which specific genes are involved.” Study Identifies the Genes That Increase Your Risk of Depression Recent research has identified more than 100 genetic variants associated with an increased risk of depression. For this study, Byrne’s team conducted a meta-analysis and interpreted data collected by other studies. They pored over data from more than 15,000 participants, looking at detailed mental health history surveys, depression diagnosis, and saliva-retrieved DNA samples. “Many patients with depression report physical symptoms such as aches and pains in the muscles and loss of energy, and a clinician assessing symptoms for clinical depression will ask about physical as well as psychological symptoms,” Byrne says. “Being that depression is quite a complex condition, the genetic risk factors may not all be the same for those experiencing physical symptoms and those who don’t.” Researchers Are Closer to Explaining How Ketamine Treats Depression The researchers found that people with a higher genetic risk for clinical depression are also more likely to have chronic pain, fatigue, and migraine compared to people who don't have such a high genetic risk. This can point to a vicious cycle. Physical symptoms like this can then also contribute to people’s mental health in a negative way. “Depression is a complex condition and may be an umbrella term for a group of similar but distinct disorders,” Byrne says. “There is a wide range of symptoms reported by patients.” How Genetics Can Play a Role in Depression Depression Hurts—Psychologically and Physically It’s good to keep in mind that not all of the studies researchers looked at in this analysis used the same criteria to identify depression, Isaac Tourgeman, PhD, professor of neuropsychology at Albizu University, who was not involved in the research, notes. While the study did show a significant relationship between depression and physical symptoms overall, it varied across the different studies that were reviewed, adds Tourgeman. Study: New Test May Accurately Predict Depression Based on Proteins in the Brain Still, these overall results are in line with most literature in the field. “As the famous tagline from the antidepressant Cymbalta says, ‘Depression hurts,'” Tourgeman tells Verywell. “We often think of our bodies and minds being separate, but in reality, they are very much one.” It would be very hard to experience pain or sadness without the brain that senses both, Tourgeman says. The relationship between physical symptoms and depression is biological, psychological, and cultural. Study: Brain Stimulation Can Be Individualized to Treat Depression “For some [conditions] it’s a very linear process, meaning one gene variant equals a disease,” Tourgeman says. “For others like depression, it is much more complex with multiple gene variants being relevant and the interaction with the environment being vital.” Genes are more like an outline or general plan while our experiences dictate the specifics, according to Tourgeman. For a condition like depression, situational factors, choices, and environment all play a role. “Knowing our genetic make-up allows us to be more efficient and precise on how we go about our lives, and it’s very important when treating a patient," Tourgeman adds. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mitchell BL, Thorp JG, Wu Y, et al. Polygenic Risk Scores Derived From Varying Definitions of Depression and Risk of Depression. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(10):1152–1160. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1988 Shadrina M, Bondarenko EA, Slominsky PA. Genetics Factors in Major Depression Disease. Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:334. Published 2018 Jul 23. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334 By Sofia Quaglia Sofia Quaglia is a science and health writer based between Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit