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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryIs Anxiety Genetic?
Table of Contents:OverviewIs it Nature or Nurture?The Power of Behavioral InhibitionAnxiety, Learning Theory and the Role of EnvironmentMore Research is Necessary
Anxiety DisorderRead Time: 4 Minutes
Published On: April 17, 2018
Updated On: July 2, 2024
OverviewAs a therapist, I often work with many clients who live with anxiety. That should come as no surprise as anxiety disorders are among some of the most common mental health conditions, especially in the United States. Around40 million people deal with an anxiety conditionannually. One question that comes up from time to time is, “is my anxiety genetic?”
Overview
As a therapist, I often work with many clients who live with anxiety. That should come as no surprise as anxiety disorders are among some of the most common mental health conditions, especially in the United States. Around40 million people deal with an anxiety conditionannually. One question that comes up from time to time is, “is my anxiety genetic?”
Is it Nature or Nurture?In many circles, the question of whether anxiety is genetic or mostly environmental (nature vs. nature) comes up often. The nature versus nurture conversation is one that I’ve been exposed to since I was first exposed to psychology.There are some who place a great deal of emphasis on biology. They believe that we are most often at the whims of our genetic coding. Others believe that life experiences and difficult circumstances are primarily responsible for our development of anxiety conditions. However, most of the research, and most providers will likely tell you, for most people developing an anxiety condition is a mixture of both nature and nature.It’s not uncommon for me to have conversations with clients when I’m gathering family history where I believe thata client may have inherited some of the anxious traits of their parents. It’s relatively common, in fact!However, that also has to take into account that most children live with their parents for many years, often witnessing and learning their parents’ ways of engaging with the world. This can often include what their parents find frightening or anxiety provoking. Anecdotally, it’s hard to decipher between whether nature or nature is in the driver’s seat. Research has, and continues to, make some ground in answering the question.What Science Says About the Genetics of AnxietyTwin studies on anxiety disorders demonstrate a genetic foundation for developing an anxiety condition. That is, there is some belief that anxiety conditions do run in families, suggesting relatively strong genetic relationships. Some research of Generalized Anxiety Disorder indicates a“moderate genetic risk” at 30%. [1]However, the findings on specific gene-mapping have been less clear. This has led researchers to believe that there may be many different genes responsible for the development of anxiety conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder (Villafuerte & Burmeister, 2003). [2] Gene-mapping is still a very new field of study in medicine, therefore the research community expects to have more valuable findings as more studies are conducted in the future.
Is it Nature or Nurture?
In many circles, the question of whether anxiety is genetic or mostly environmental (nature vs. nature) comes up often. The nature versus nurture conversation is one that I’ve been exposed to since I was first exposed to psychology.
There are some who place a great deal of emphasis on biology. They believe that we are most often at the whims of our genetic coding. Others believe that life experiences and difficult circumstances are primarily responsible for our development of anxiety conditions. However, most of the research, and most providers will likely tell you, for most people developing an anxiety condition is a mixture of both nature and nature.
It’s not uncommon for me to have conversations with clients when I’m gathering family history where I believe thata client may have inherited some of the anxious traits of their parents. It’s relatively common, in fact!
However, that also has to take into account that most children live with their parents for many years, often witnessing and learning their parents’ ways of engaging with the world. This can often include what their parents find frightening or anxiety provoking. Anecdotally, it’s hard to decipher between whether nature or nature is in the driver’s seat. Research has, and continues to, make some ground in answering the question.What Science Says About the Genetics of Anxiety
Twin studies on anxiety disorders demonstrate a genetic foundation for developing an anxiety condition. That is, there is some belief that anxiety conditions do run in families, suggesting relatively strong genetic relationships. Some research of Generalized Anxiety Disorder indicates a“moderate genetic risk” at 30%. [1]
However, the findings on specific gene-mapping have been less clear. This has led researchers to believe that there may be many different genes responsible for the development of anxiety conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder (Villafuerte & Burmeister, 2003). [2] Gene-mapping is still a very new field of study in medicine, therefore the research community expects to have more valuable findings as more studies are conducted in the future.
Online therapy for anxiety
The Power of Behavioral Inhibition
One significant finding in research states that there are some personality or temperamental characteristics that are more commonly genetically transferred or inherited through families.
Anxiety, Learning Theory and the Role of Environment
On the other hand, anxiety researchers also citesocial learning theoryas a significant contributor or nexus to the development of clinical anxiety conditions (Ollendick, Shortt, & Sander, 2008). [4] There are mainly four ways in which the development of anxiety is explained:
As you can see here, the question of “is anxiety genetic?” is about as easy to answer as “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” Further research must be done in order to sufficiently answer the question definitively whether anxiety conditions are genetic or not. That being said, the most recent research on genetic mapping is promising for determining predisposition for certain health conditions.
More Research is NecessaryOne flaw of the research out there is that it’s been difficult to gather large enough populations to adequately study and sample such a wide range of conditions. There are many disorders that fall under theumbrella term of anxiety conditions. In order to have a better understanding of the nature of these illnesses, many more people will need to participate in research. With this, hopefully we will be better able to accurately assess whether anxiety is genetic or not and identify the best strategies in treatment overall.
More Research is Necessary
One flaw of the research out there is that it’s been difficult to gather large enough populations to adequately study and sample such a wide range of conditions. There are many disorders that fall under theumbrella term of anxiety conditions. In order to have a better understanding of the nature of these illnesses, many more people will need to participate in research. With this, hopefully we will be better able to accurately assess whether anxiety is genetic or not and identify the best strategies in treatment overall.
See ReferencesGenetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traitsGottschalk, Michael G, and Katharina Domschke. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience vol. 19,2 (2017): 159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschke. Accessed April 02, 2018.Untangling genetic networks of panic, phobia, fear and anxietyVillafuerte, Sandra, and Margit Burmeister. Genome biology vol. 4,8 (2003): 224. doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-224. Accessed April 02, 2018.Internalizing Disorders of Childhood and AdolescenceJanay B. Sander et al. Accessed April 12, 2018.
See References
Gottschalk, Michael G, and Katharina Domschke. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience vol. 19,2 (2017): 159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschke. Accessed April 02, 2018.
Villafuerte, Sandra, and Margit Burmeister. Genome biology vol. 4,8 (2003): 224. doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-224. Accessed April 02, 2018.
Janay B. Sander et al. Accessed April 12, 2018.
Jor-El CaraballoJor-El Caraballo, LMHC is a NYC based Talkspace therapist, writer, and mental health advocate. Jor-El believes in therapy as a collaborative working relationship and focuses most of his work on helping clients deal with anxiety, depression, identity, and LGBTQ+ issues. You can join the conversation with Jor-El on Twitter @jorelcaraballo.
Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC is a NYC based Talkspace therapist, writer, and mental health advocate. Jor-El believes in therapy as a collaborative working relationship and focuses most of his work on helping clients deal with anxiety, depression, identity, and LGBTQ+ issues. You can join the conversation with Jor-El on Twitter @jorelcaraballo.
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