Two Generations of Depression Triples Risk in Third
Having a parent and a grandparent with major depression triples a person’s risk for major depressive disorder, according to study published online in JAMA Psychiatry.
“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,” researchers wrote. “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.”
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The longitudinal retrospective cohort family study spanned 251 grandchildren (with an average 18 years of age), who were interviewed an average of 2 times. Their biological parents were interviewed an average of 4.6 times, and their grandparents were interviewed for up to 30 years.
When researchers compared 2 younger generations, they found the third generation had twice the risk of major depressive disorder if they had a depressed parent. They also were at higher risk of disruptive disorder, substance dependence, suicidal ideation or gesture, and poorer functioning, according to the study.
When researchers included all 3 generations in their calculations, they found the third generation had triple the risk of major depressive disorder if they had both a depressed parent and a depressed grandparent. Among individuals without a depressed grandparent, those with a depressed parent had overall poorer functioning.
“In this study, biological offspring with 2 previous generations affected with major depression were at highest risk for major depression, suggesting the potential value of determining family history of depression in children and adolescents beyond 2 generations,” wrote researcher Myrna M. Weissman, PhD, of Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, and colleagues.
“Early intervention in offspring of 2 generations affected with moderate to severely impairing major depressive disorder seems warranted.”
– Jolynn Tumolo
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