Figure 16.5: Roles of genetic predisposition and stressful experiences in the incidence of depression Women who had recently experienced a severely stressful event were far more likely to experience the onset of major depression than were those who had not. This effect of stress was greater for those who were judged to be more genetically predisposed for depression (based on the status of their twin sisters, as shown in the key) than for those who were judged to be less genetically predisposed.
(Based on data from Kendler et al., 1995.)