Increased prevalence and earlier onset of mood disorders among relatives of prepubertal versus adult probands.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the familial clustering of affective disorders among first-degree relatives of prepubertal versus adult probands with mood disorders.


METHODS
The Family History-Research Diagnostic Criteria (FH-RDC) assessment instrument was used to obtain data on first-degree relatives of all probands. Logistic regression was used to assess the strength of the age of the proband to predict FH-RDC diagnoses in relatives. Survival analysis was used to examine the age-at-onset distribution of first FH-RDC diagnosis while controlling for year of birth.


RESULTS
The prevalence of major affective disorders was more than two times higher among first-degree relatives of child probands versus those of adult probands even when controlling for birth cohort. Cumulative risk for lifetime major mood disorders in first-degree relatives of child probands was significantly higher than for those of adult probands.


CONCLUSIONS
These analyses further support that ascertainment of families through affected children identifies pedigrees with a higher proportion of affected relatives than ascertainment through affected adults.
Neuman
R J
RJ
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Geller
B
B
Rice
J P
JP
Todd
R D
RD
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015988:Cohort Effect; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology