Familial transmission of mood disorders: convergence and divergence with transmission of suicidal behavior.
OBJECTIVE
Both mood disorder and suicidal behavior are familial. In this study, the authors examine the factors associated with the familial transmission of these two related conditions to learn which are shared or unique risk factors for familial transmission.


METHODS
The 285 offspring of 141 probands with mood disorder were studied. Proband and offspring characteristics associated with offspring mood disorder were examined by univariate statistics, logistic and Cox regression, and path analysis.


RESULTS
Parental history of sexual abuse was associated with an increased risk of offspring mood disorder. The relationship between parent sexual abuse and offspring mood disorder was mediated by offspring impulsive aggression, sexual abuse, and anxiety disorder. In offspring, higher levels of impulsive aggression were associated with earlier age at onset of mood disorder. Offspring suicide attempt was mainly related to offspring mood disorder, with additional contributions from offspring sexual abuse and impulsive aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathways associated with the familial transmission of mood disorder and of suicide attempt are similar but not identical. Prevention of early-onset mood disorder by targeting high- risk families may help to prevent the transmission of suicidal behavior. Because these data are cross-sectional, these results must be confirmed by prospective follow-up.
Brent
David A
DA
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. brentda@upmc.edu
Oquendo
Maria
M
Birmaher
Boris
B
Greenhill
Laurence
L
Kolko
David
D
Stanley
Barbara
B
Zelazny
Jamie
J
Brodsky
Beth
B
Melhem
Nadine
N
Ellis
Steven P
SP
Mann
J John
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000374:Aggression; D001007:Anxiety; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*