Children of parents with affective disorder

Abstract

There is a high rate of general psychiatric impairment in children of parents with major affective disorder and, in particular, a marked amount of major depression according to DSM-III criteria. The clinical implications of these findings are that for children of parents with affective disorder, there is substantial likelihood of developing manifest psychiatric impairment by late adolescence. Clinicians treating parents with affective disorders should consider the evaluation and well-being of the parents' children. Although empirical data do not yet exist to recommend specific strategies for primary prevention, we do suggest that the treatment of the parental illness is essential and that early recognition of disorder in the children may lead to more effective and long-lasting intervention. Particular attention to the assessment of possible affective disorder in the children is indicated.