Brief reportPsychopathology and functioning among children of treated depressed fathers and mothers
Introduction
Numerous studies have shown that children of depressed as compared to non-depressed parents have increased rates of depressive, anxiety and behavioral disorders (Beardslee et al., 2011, Weissman et al., 2006). Children of depressed fathers have increased rates of parent–child conflict and elevated rates of externalizing disorders (ALSPAC Study Team, 2005, Weitzman et al., 2011) similar to children of depressed mothers (Connell and Goodman, 2002). However, compared to paternal depression, the offspring of depressed mothers may be at greater risk of developing internalizing disorders (Beardslee et al., 2003, Kane and Garber, 2004, Klein et al., 2005).
Remissions of parental depression are associated with decrease in offspring psychopathology (Garber et al., 2011, Pilowsky et al., 2008). However, the remission studies have usually focused on depressed mothers. This report focuses on psychopathology and functioning among children of treatment-seeking depressed fathers and mothers as the parents recover from depression.
Section snippets
Methods
Ethics Approval. This study was approved by the New York State Psychiatric Institute Institutional Review Board.
Results
There were no statistically significant differences in educational level, employment status, mean number of children per family, or household income between depressed married mothers (N=34) and married fathers (N=9) participating in the study. Although not statistically significant, the sample included more Hispanic mothers than fathers (1[11.1%] and 12 [35.3%] Hispanic fathers and mothers, respectively; T=9.73; p<0.10; data not shown). The average age of the 9 fathers was 43.6 years compared
Discussion
Depression among treatment-seeking currently depressed fathers were associated with a lower prevalence of offspring psychiatric symptoms when compared to the offspring of currently depressed mothers. This finding concurs with the results of a recent study indicating that children of fathers with depressive symptoms had substantially lower emotional and behavioral problems than children of mothers with these symptoms (Weitzman et al., 2011). Weitzman et al.׳s study has limitations, i.e. child
Role of funding source
The funding sources did not contribute to the preparation of the manuscript. The manuscript was not reviewed by the funding sources and was not submitted for their approval.
Conflict of interest
No conflict declared.
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the following grants: MH082255 Parental Remission of Depression and Child Psychopathology (MMW, PI); MH076961-01A2 (JWS, PI); MH077285-01A2 (PB, PI).
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