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Published on: March 2, 2015
Depression and internally directed aggression: genetic and environmental contributions
Suzanne K Haddad1, David Reiss, Erica L Spotts
1Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. suzannekerinhaddad@gmail.com
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|June 3, 2008
Summary
Behavior genetic (BG) methods reveal that both genetic factors and unique individual experiences equally contribute to the link between aggression and depression. These findings support Freud's theory and psychoanalytic treatment approaches.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Freud's psychoanalytic theory posits depression as aggression turned inward.
- Behavioral genetics (BG) offers methods to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on psychological traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Freud's theory of depression using BG methodology.
- To determine the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to aggression and depressive symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden (TOSS) with 909 adult twin pairs.
- Measured depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
- Assessed internally directed aggression via the Karolinska Scales of Personality.
Main Results:
- Genetic analyses indicated equal contributions from unique experiences and genetic factors to the aggression-depression link.
- Both men and women showed this equal contribution pattern.
- Unique experiences were found to be more influential than shared experiences.
Conclusions:
- Findings support Freud's theory linking aggression, individual experiences, and depression.
- The significant role of unique experiences reinforces the value of patient-specific psychoanalytic treatment.
- BG methodology can inform and validate psychoanalytic theory and practice.
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