title: A longitudinal study of maternal depression and child maltreatment in a national sample of families investigated by child protective services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether a change in depression predicts a mother's change in maltreatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, repeated measures study.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being, 1999 to 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers who retained custody of a child aged 0 to 15 years following a maltreatment investigation and completed at least 2 of 3 surveys (n = 2386).
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in depression status between baseline and 18- and 36-month follow-ups, assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form.
  
  
  METHODS
  Change in psychological aggression, physical assault, and neglect between baseline and 18- and 36-month follow-ups, assessed with the Conflict Tactics Scale Parent-Child version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-third (35.5%) of mothers experienced onset or remission of depression. Onset of depression was associated with an increase of 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-4.4) psychologically aggressive acts in an average 12-month period, but was not statistically significantly associated with change in physical assault or neglect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is positively associated with maternal perpetration of psychological aggression in high-risk families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. kconron@post.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Kerith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Conron
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beardslee
authors.forename: Karestan C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koenen
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Buka
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gortmaker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology