A 30-Year Study of 3 Generations at High Risk and Low Risk for Depression.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The increased risk of major depression in the offspring of depressed parents is well known. Whether the risk is transmitted beyond 2 generations is less well known. To our knowledge, no published study with direct interviews of family members and the generations in the age of risk for depression has evaluated beyond 2 generations. This information is important for detecting individuals at highest risk who may benefit from early intervention.

Objective

To examine the familial aggregation of psychiatric disorder and functioning in grandchildren by their biological parents' and grandparents' depression status.

Design, setting, and participants

Longitudinal retrospective cohort family study of 251 grandchildren (generation 3 [mean age, 18 years]) interviewed a

SUBMITTER: Weissman MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5512549 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature