Depressive symptoms, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and their comorbidity among children of problem drinkers in a national survey: effects of parent and child gender and parent recovery status.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of depressive symptoms, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and their comorbidity among children of problem drinkers (COPDs) in college and the effects of parent and child gender and parent drinking status on outcomes and on COPDs' treatment utilization.


METHODS
The study population was a nationally representative sample of 27,430 college students from 119 4-year colleges who completed survey questionnaires for the Harvard College Alcohol Study in 1997 and 1999. Logistic regression was used to estimate the psychiatric outcomes and patterns of treatment/counseling.


RESULTS
COPDs who reported that their parents were active problem drinkers were at increased risk of depressive symptoms, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and their comorbidity. Female children of active problem drinkers (CAPDs) were at increased risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57,p < .01) and comorbidity of depressive symptoms and alcohol abuse (OR = 2.09, p < .01). Male CAPDs were at risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.69, p < .05) only. Stratified analysis by both parent and child gender revealed that depressive symptoms among female COPDs were affected by both paternal and maternal drinking, whereas among their male counterparts depressive symptoms were present only when the affected parent was the father. Male children of recovered problem drinkers were more likely to seek and receive psychiatric treatment/counseling than male CAPDs.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychiatric risk of COPDs varied by respondent and parent gender, and by whether the affected parent was reported to be actively disordered or in recovery. The results highlight the importance of early and gender-specific interventions for COPDs.
Chen
Ying-Yeh
YY
Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, P.O. Box 15678, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Weitzman
Elissa R
ER
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003289:Convalescence; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010290:Parents; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires