Remission in Depressed Mothers and Behavior of Their Children

Are children helped in the longer term when their depressed mothers respond to treatment? Researchers have now reported 1-year follow-up data on this question in a substudy of the STAR*D treatment study of major depressive disorder in adults (JW Psychiatry Apr 5 2006).

Quarterly assessments of the children concentrated on mood, anxiety, and disruptive disorders. Of the 151 eligible dyads, 127 had at least one follow-up (children's mean age, 12 years; 55% male). Of 64 mothers with remission and no later relapse, 36 mothers remitted within 3 months (early group), and 28 mothers remitted between 3 and 12 months (late group); these children were assessed for 1 year after remission. In children of 16 mothers whose disease never remitted, assessme…