title: Longitudinal symptom course in adults with recurrent depression: Impact on impairment and risk of psychopathology in offspring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major depressive disorder (MDD) is common and is associated with an increased risk of psychopathology in offspring. However, depression shows considerable heterogeneity in its course over time. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between parent depression symptom trajectories and (i) quality of life and social impairment and (ii) psychiatric disorder and depression symptoms in their offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were from a longitudinal study of 337 parents with recurrent MDD and their adolescent offspring. Families were assessed on three occasions over four years. Parent depressive symptoms and current MDD diagnosis were assessed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Adult quality of life and social impairment were derived from the EuroQol and current employment status. Psychiatric outcomes in offspring were assessed using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using latent class growth analysis, three distinct classes of parental depression symptoms were identified (asymptomatic, mild, and chronic high). Parent depression classes were associated with their own quality of life and social impairment, and with psychiatric disorder and depression symptoms in their offspring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (i) We were unable to test associations with specific offspring disorders, (ii) we did not address the direction of effects underlying associations, and (iii) the sample consisted primarily of mothers and findings may not generalise to depressed fathers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longitudinal assessments of depressive symptoms in parents could help to identify families who are most in need of early intervention.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK. Electronic address: becky.mars@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mars
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Collishaw
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hammerton
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Rudd Centre for Adoption Research and Practice, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK; Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Russia.
authors.forename: Gordon T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Harold
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Rhys
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bevan Jones
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK; Rudd Centre for Adoption Research and Practice, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Craddock
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Thapar
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thapar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adolescent; Depression: parent; Longitudinal; Symptom course