title: A growth curve analysis of the course of dysthymic disorder: the effects of chronic stress and moderation by adverse parent-child relationships and family history.
abstract: Using mixed effects models, the authors examined the effects of chronic stress, adverse parent-child relationships, and family history on the 7.5-year course of dysthymic disorder. Participants included 97 outpatients with early-onset dysthymia who were assessed with semistructured interviews at baseline and 3 additional times at 30-month intervals for 7.5 years. Results indicated that higher levels of chronic stress 6 months prior to each follow-up predicted greater depression severity at follow-up, controlling for depression severity at the start of the chronic stress assessment. In addition, adverse parent-child relationships and family history of dysthymic disorder moderated this association. For patients with poorer parent-child relationships, chronic stress was associated with increased depression severity at follow-up, whereas patients with a higher familial loading for dysthymic disorder were less responsive to chronic stress over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA.
authors.forename: Lea R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*