Early onset psychiatric disorder in high risk children and increased familial morbidity.
The relationship between child psychopathology and familial morbidity in second degree relatives was examined for children considered at risk on the basis of parental affective illness. Second degree relatives in high-risk families with no child psychopathology were no different from low-risk families in their rates of depression and anxiety. Second degree relatives in high-risk families positive for child psychopathology had significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety than relatives of low-risk children and relatives of high-risk children with no disorder. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to risk status, prepubertal onset of psychopathology, and familial morbidity for specific psychiatric disorders.
Orvaschel
H
H
Department of Psychiatry, Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, Medical College, Philadelphia 19129.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors