About 23-million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Most commonly depression. But, it may not be totally their fault. Experts now think some people are born with a tendency to develope depression "programmed to panic". News Specialist Kelley Day has more on this breaking research.

The most exciting part about this - is that research is local - going on at the genetic research department at the Universtiy of Utah. Myraid genetics and other organizations are conducting a depression study. They're trying to locate a specific gene that may cause depression to run in families.

Tracing your family tree, you can find your eyes, your hair color, your smile, even your personality. But you can't see depression and that could run in your family too.

Dr. Lynn Richards/Depression Study: ((WE ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT GENETICS DO EFFECT DEPRESSION.))

But local researchers want to know exactly how. What specific genes effect depression ?

They're conducting a study, interviewing families who may have multi-generational depression. Then, they're taking blood samples to analyze DNA and determine if the tendency for depression really runs in the family.

((EVENTUALLY WITH THIS, I THINK THERE WILL BE IMPROVED TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION IF WE CAN UNDERSTAND GENETICS, HOW THE GENES FUNCTION, WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DEVELOPE BETTER MEDICATIONS THAT ARE MORE SPECIFIC.))

And someday doctors may be able to use genetic testing to treat depression before it becomes dangerous.

((WE CAN START MEDICATION EARLY, EDUCATE PARENTS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR, AND THE INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES.))

But with this kind of knowledge some worry that insurance companies may someday get ahold of genetic information, and use it to deny coverage. But researchers hope their pioneering study will instead lead to change in the insurance industry.

Dr. Lisa Cannon-Albright/Depression Study: ((THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF TO IDENTIFY THOSE AT RISK AND ENGAGE IN PROPHALACTIC OR THERAPUTIC TREATMENT, RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL THE DISORDER IS MANIFESTED, AND THEN HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT THEN.))

Genetic detection of depression could also provide hope for families who have struggled from generation to generation with anxiety, fear, and in extreme cases a history of suicide.

Right now, the depression study has about 90-families but they would like to have up to one thousand.

So if you think you may have depression that runs in your family, call one of these numbers: 581-1104 or 1-800-372-1687.