title: Family group cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention for families of depressed parents: 18- and 24-month outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (Compas et al., 2009) to examine the effects at 18- and 24-month follow-ups of a family group cognitive-behavioral (FGCB) preventive intervention for mental health outcomes for children and parents from families (N = 111) of parents with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents with a history of MDD and their 9- to 15-year-old children were randomly assigned to a FGCB intervention or a written information comparison condition. Children's internalizing, externalizing, anxiety/depression, and depressive symptoms; episodes of MDD and other psychiatric diagnoses; and parents' depressive symptoms and episodes of MDD were assessed at 18 and 24 months after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children in the FGCB condition were significantly lower in self-reports of anxiety/depression and internalizing symptoms at 18 months and were significantly lower in self-reports of externalizing symptoms at 18 and 24 months. Rates of MDD were significantly lower for children in the FGCB intervention over the 24-month follow-up (odds ratio = 2.91). Marginal effects were found for parents' symptoms of depression at 18 and 24 months but not for episodes of MDD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support was found for a FGCB preventive intervention for children of parents with a history of MDD significantly reducing children's episodes of MDD over a period of 2 years. Significant effects for the FGCB intervention were also found on internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with stronger effects at 18- than at 24-month follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Human Development, VanderbiltUniversity, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. bruce.compas@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Compas
authors.forename: Rex
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forehand
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Thigpen
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.forename: Kelly H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rakow
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colletti
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reeslund
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fear
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garai
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Lorinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome