From River to Stream: How Vulnerability Becomes Illness
In psychiatry, genetic vulnerability is not destiny.
Posted March 1, 2026 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch
When I see patients with serious mental health issues, they often speak of their genetic burden: “My father had bipolar disorder ”, “my grandmother was schizophrenic”, “my aunt has severe depression ”. My patients feel their psychiatric destiny weighing them down, as though there is no hope for recovery or cure in light of their heredity. But the genetics of all psychiatric diagnoses are complex and not easy to understand, even for doctors and scientists. I try to explain it like this:
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Irene Hurford, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst with over 20 years of experience treating psychosis with both medications and psychotherapy.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.