ABSTRACT

Many factors are considered to play a role in the etiology of depressive disorder. It was aimed to share up-to-date information on etiologic factors in pediatric major depressive disorder, which are remarked on in this article, in the area of genetic family, twin and adoption studies, the linkage studies, candidate gene studies, genome-wide association studies, genetic screening, pharmacogenetics and gene-environment interaction studies. We scanned scientific articles published between the years 2002-2012, by entering the terms “Major Depression Genetics”, “Pediatric Depression Genetics”, “Child and Adolescent Depression Genetics”, “Mood Disorders Genetics”, on PubMed search engine. Articles related to the issue and scientific studies whose contemporary properties are distinct were reviewed. There is no universal genetic risk factor or gene available that leads to major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is associated with a large number of genes which have trivial similar effects and may occur by the interaction of environmental factors and genetic factors.