Genetic Factors Influencing Comorbidity

Comorbidity is one of the most common commonalities people who suffer from mental illness share. Most people who suffer from almost any mental illness will also suffer from comorbidity. Comorbidity is when one or more mental illness occurs at the same time (NIDA, 2008). This can include a variety of illnesses, such as depression mixed with anxiety.
Perhaps the most common form of comorbidity, is seen with the drug addiction population. Often addicts use their drug of choice, to mask any underlying problems. For example, an addict could be using alcohol to deal with their depression and other mental illnesses, which makes it comorbid with addiction. Addiction doesn’t not cause mental illness, and mental illness doesn’t cause addiction. However, either can worsen or make an underlying illness more pronounced.
Genetic factors can cause individuals to be predisposed to develop an array of mental aliments. A shocking 40-60% of addiction vulnerable people can be linked to genetic factors (NIDA, 2008). The genetic factors arise from the nature vs nurture phenomenon, which looks at genetics vs environment and their interaction between both.
Most mental illnesses began to show their first signs of existing during a person’s adolescence (NIDA, 2008). As a result of this, drug abuse also tends to develop around this same growth period. During adolescence, our brain is still undergoing significant development, causing genetic predispositions of addiction, and mental illness to start being seen in an individual.
Overall, the article by the National Institute on Drug Abuse on comorbidity, presented no surprising information. Comorbidity is one of the most common factors in mental health. Thus, making it a popular topic in psychological classes. As a result of this comorbidity is something I have come across quite a lot during my