ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The Impact of Parental Affective Disorder on Depression in Offspring: A Longitudinal Follow-up in a Nonreferred Sample

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Abstract

Objective

This study explored the effects of parental affective disorder on offspring in a nonreferred health maintenance organization 4 years after initial examination.

Method

The sample, average age 18.5 years, included 91% of the 153 youngsters initially studied. The main instruments were structured diagnostic interviews scored according to criterion systems for both parents and children; assessment of the youngsters was blind to the previous assessment.

Results

Rates of major depressive disorder were higher in the children of parents with affective disorder (26%) compared with those whose parents had no disorder (10%).

Conclusion

Depression and other parental affective disorders, as they occur in the community in parents who often are neither recognized nor treated, are associated with serious affective disorder in offspring. Clinical and preventive approaches for these offspring are needed and should be targeted to all families in which there is serious parental affective disorder, not just those who present for psychiatric treatment.

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    Supported by the William T. Grant Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health through a grant entitled “Children at Risk for Affective Disorder” (Grant RO-I-MH34780–3) in conjunction with the Boston Center of Collaborative Psychobiology of Depression Study (Grant 2-U02-MH25475–09), the Harris Trust through Harvard University, the Overseas Shipholding Group, the George P. Harrington Trust, and a Faculty Scholar Award to Dr. Beardslee.

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