Kendler et al (2006)

Method: Correlation (interviews; twin study)

Aim: investigate whether major depressive disorder were inherited, as well as whether there
was a significant gender difference in the heritability of severe depression.

Sample: more than 15 000 twins

Procedure: A team of trained interviewers carried out telephone interviews. They asked them
questions regarding their lifestyle to assess whether they had suffered from major depression in
their lifetime. Additionally, they asked whether the twins shared the same environment.

Findings: The researchers found that around 8000 twins suffered from major depression at
some point in their life. On one hand, the results also showed that 44% of MZ female twins both
suffered from depression and 31% of MZ male twins. On the other hand, 16% of DZ female
twins and 11% of DZ male twins.

Conclusion: The concordance rates for major depression were significantly higher in women
than men. In addition, the closer they were genetically, the higher was the chance that both
twins suffered from depression.

Evaluation:
⊕ Very large population, high generalizability.

⊖ The study is correlational: no cause and effect relationship can be determined as no particular
genes were isolated and tested in the study.
⊖ Making a depression diagnosis by telephone may be considered of questionable validity.