Mother-child interactions in depressed children and children at high risk and low risk for future depression.
OBJECTIVE
To compare mother-child interactions and parenting styles in families of children with major depressive disorder, youths at high risk for depression, and healthy controls.


METHODS
Currently depressed (n = 43), high-risk (n = 28), and healthy control (n = 41) youths and their mothers engaged in a standardized videotaped problem-solving interaction. Measures of affect and behavior for both mothers and children were obtained, in addition to global measures of parenting.


RESULTS
Depressed children demonstrated more negativity and less positivity in dyadic interactions than did children at high risk and control children. Mothers of depressed children were more disengaged than control mothers. Exploratory repeated-measures analyses in a subgroup of depressed children (n = 16) suggested mother-child interactions do not significantly change when children recover from depression. Children at high risk demonstrated less positivity in dyadic interactions than did controls. Mothers with a history of major depressive disorder and mothers with higher current depressive symptoms demonstrated patterns of disengagement and low control in interactions with children.


CONCLUSIONS
Mother-child interactions in depressed youths are marked by maternal disengagement and low child positivity that may not improve when children recover. The bidirectional effects of maternal disengagement and low levels of child positivity may precede onset of major depressive disorder in children and serve as risk factors for recurrent depression in youths.
Dietz
Laura J
LJ
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.. Electronic address: dietzlj@upmc.edu.
Birmaher
Boris
B
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Williamson
Douglas E
DE
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Silk
Jennifer S
JS
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Dahl
Ronald E
RE
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Axelson
David A
DA
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Ehmann
Mary
M
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Ryan
Neal D
ND
Drs. Dietz, Birmaher, Silk, Dahl, Axelson, and Ryan and Ms. Ehmann are with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; Dr. Williamson is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011340:Problem Solving; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors