Executive functioning in offspring at risk for depression and anxiety.
BACKGROUND
Executive functioning deficits (EFDs) have been found in adults with major depression and some anxiety disorders, yet it is unknown whether these deficits predate onset of disorder, or whether they reflect acute symptoms. Studies of at-risk offspring can shed light on this question by examining whether EFDs characterize children at high risk for depression and anxiety who are not yet symptomatic.


METHODS
This study examined neuropsychological functioning in a sample of 147 children, ages 6-17 years (M age=9.16, SD=1.82), of parents with major depression (MDD) and/or panic disorder (PD) and of controls with neither disorder. Children were assessed via structured diagnostic interviews and neuropsychological measures.


RESULTS
Although parental MDD and PD were not associated with neuropsychological impairments, presence of current offspring MDD was associated with poorer performance on several executive functioning and processing speed measures. Children with current generalized anxiety showed poorer verbal memory, whereas children with social phobia had more omissions on a continuous performance task.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that EFDs do not serve as trait markers for developing anxiety or depression but appear to be symptomatic of current disorder.
Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 85 Alewife Brook Parkway, Suite 2000, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. jmicco@partners.org
Jamie A
JA
Micco
Aude
A
Henin
Joseph
J
Biederman
Jerrold F
JF
Rosenbaum
Carter
C
Petty
Laura A
LA
Rindlaub
Marisa
M
Murphy
Dina R
DR
Hirshfeld-Becker
D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D012306:Risk; D057190:Stroop Test; D014706:Verbal Learning