Spouses Tend to Share Psychiatric Disorders, Massive Study Finds

image via New Scientist

September 3, 2025, 1:00 PM

• •Couples with one partner diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder are more likely to share a diagnosis.
• •The pattern holds across cultures and generations, with slight increases in shared diagnoses over decades.
• •Genetics, shared environments, and attraction to similar individuals may explain the phenomenon.
• •Children with two affected parents are at higher risk of developing the same condition.

A massive study across three countries found that spouses frequently share psychiatric diagnoses, a pattern that persists across cultures and generations. The research examined nearly 15 million people and revealed that if one partner has a psychiatric disorder, the other is significantly more likely to have the same or another condition. Scientists suggest genetics, shared environments, and attraction to similar individuals may explain this trend. The findings highlight the potential for increased risk in subsequent generations when both parents share psychiatric disorders.

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