Story perspectives

Rising Psychiatric Disorders: Genes or Shared Marital Patterns?

9/8/2025

29 6

Summary

Story summary

In 2022, 23.1% of U.S. adults reported psychiatric disorders, rising from 18.1% over 20 years.
The study analyzed 14.8 million health records from Taiwan, Denmark, and Sweden, covering nine disorders.
Individuals with psychiatric conditions often marry others with similar issues, a trend that has grown over generations.
Children of parents with shared disorders face double the risk of developing similar conditions.
Researchers urge a reevaluation of genetic studies to account for non-random mating patterns.

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Story summary

In 2022, 23.1% of U.S. adults reported psychiatric disorders, rising from 18.1% over 20 years.
The study analyzed 14.8 million health records from Taiwan, Denmark, and Sweden, covering nine disorders.
Individuals with psychiatric conditions often marry others with similar issues, a trend that has grown over generations.
Children of parents with shared disorders face double the risk of developing similar conditions.
Researchers urge a reevaluation of genetic studies to account for non-random mating patterns.