#EvidenceBasedCare

A sweeping new analysis published in May 2025 challenges the long-standing belief that mental disorders are largely inherited. The research argues that heritability explains far less of mental illness than once thought, urging a broader view that includes environment, trauma, and social factors in mental health. This shift has important implications for Thai readers, where openness about mental health is increasing but stigma and misinformation still linger.

In Thailand, where public dialogue around mental health is expanding, it is vital to understand that conditions like depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia are not determined solely by family history. Recognizing the role of social determinants can inform better policy, more inclusive services, and clearer messaging that reduces stigma across communities.

The assumption that mental disorders are largely inherited from our parents—a bedrock belief of biological psychiatry for decades—is now under serious scrutiny. According to a detailed new analysis published in May 2025, current research demonstrates that heritability explains far less about mental illness than previously assumed, prompting renewed calls for a broader understanding of the interplay between genes, environment, and psychology in shaping mental health (Madin America).

Why does this matter for Thai readers? In a country where mental health awareness is only now gaining national attention, public discourse often echoes global trends in medicine and psychiatry, including an emphasis on genetic causation. Many Thais, especially in urban areas, may be told that conditions like depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia run in families and are predominantly genetic. Understanding that mental disorders stem from more than just DNA could help counter stigma, inform policy, and inspire more comprehensive mental health support across the country.