The impact of the endogenous subtype on the familial aggregation of unipolar depression.
The endogenous/non-endogenous distinction of unipolar major depression is widely accepted, as is the family study approach to the validation of diagnostic distinctions. Rates of affective disorders were examined in 689 first-degree relatives of 184 patients with unipolar major depression and were compared with 312 first-degree relatives of 80 healthy controls. Only unipolar depression and alcoholism were more common in families of depressed probands compared with families of healthy controls. As a variety of diagnostic definitions of endogenous depression have been proposed, probands and relatives were diagnosed in a polydiagnostic manner. None of the five diagnostic definitions of endogenous depression was able to identify patients with an increased familial risk of unipolar depression.
Maier
W
W
Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hallmayer
J
J
Lichtermann
D
D
Philipp
M
M
Klingler
T
T
D001143:Arousal; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003702:Delusions / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors