Risk for Familial Depression Follows Offspring into Adulthood

In a 30-year follow-up study, rate of depression, age at onset, and prevalence by gender differed between offspring of depressed parents and those of nonaffected parents.

Although several studies have investigated depression incidence in children of depressed people, this is the first with a 30-year follow-up.

The parents had unipolar moderate or severe major depression, were recruited from clinical settings, and were compared with community controls with no psychiatric disorders. Parents, spouses, and offspring from 91 families were comprehensively assessed by blinded raters in six waves.

Of the original 261 offspring, 61% were available for assessment at 30 years (mean age, 47). Offspring of depressed parents (high-risk group) experienced a tripling of risk for depression relative to the low-risk group. Relative risk using a severity criterion (Global Assessment Scale Score, <70) was 9 times higher. Depressi…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Risk for Familial Depression Follows Offspring into Adulthood

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Reviewing Author