Severity of mum's blues can predict effect on kids
21 March 2003
Moderate to severe depression of mothers (maternal depression) lasting as little as one or 2 months increases their children's risk of developing depression by the time they are 15 years old, Australian researchers say.
But milder maternal depression does not seem to influence the risk of teenage depression unless it lasts longer than a year (Archives of General Psychiatry 2003; 60: 253-58).
Severity rather than duration of maternal depression was a better predictor of teen depression.
Follow-up of 816 women showed children whose mothers had been depressed during their first 10 years were twice as likely to have depression or dysthymia (a type of long-term depression which is not as severe as major depression but which stops you from functioning fully) at 15 years than children not exposed to maternal depression.
Children were just as likely to be depressed at 15 if they were exposed to maternal depression at 0-2, 3-5 or 6-10 years of age.
These findings suggested post-partum depression was no more risky than depression at other periods, and they might reassure those people worried that mild but brief depression was harmful, the researchers said.
Non-depressive psychiatric disorders, especially anxiety, were also increased in children exposed to maternal depression.
The researchers could not tell if the findings were due to genetic or psychosocial reasons.
Last Reviewed: 24 March 2003
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 21/3/03
