There are certain limitations in family studies, some of which may be overcome in twin studies. In an extensive twin study, Torgersen (19) concluded that: "The analysis of concordance rates indicates that hereditary factors may be important
the development of bipolar disorder and in major depression, except in non-psychotic, hysterical individuals. Furthermore, hereditary factors may not play any role in dysthymic disorder and depressive adjustment disorder." The results appear to be in line with those from our family studies in which there is no genetic relationship between neurotic-reactive depression and bipolar affective disorders and a higher morbidity risk for nonbipolar affective disorders in the relatives of patients with unipolar affective disorders than in the relatives of patients with neurotic-reactive depression.

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