Abstract
The negative impacts of parental mental health problems on children and adolescents are well known, but the relationship between
a child’s depression and their parents’ health is not so well understood. Being a carer/parent of someone with mental illness
can be associated with negative outcomes for the caregiver. This paper reports the associations between the mental health
of adolescents with major depression and their parents, before and after treatment of the adolescent’s depression. Data were
collected as part of the Adolescent Depression Antidepressants and Psychotherapy Trial, a randomised controlled trial of selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors with and without cognitive behaviour therapy in 208 clinic-recruited adolescents with major
depression. The baseline severity of depression in the adolescent was significantly associated with both maternal and paternal
mental health (as rated by the General Health Questionnaire). This effect was not confounded by other psychiatric symptoms.
The degree of improvement in parental and child mental health was positively correlated across time. Our results support the
hypothesis that there is a significant association between parental mental health and adolescent depressive symptoms. This
study was not able to establish the direction of this association. In clinical practice, the findings demonstrate the importance
of considering the mental health of the parents when treating depressed adolescents.
a child’s depression and their parents’ health is not so well understood. Being a carer/parent of someone with mental illness
can be associated with negative outcomes for the caregiver. This paper reports the associations between the mental health
of adolescents with major depression and their parents, before and after treatment of the adolescent’s depression. Data were
collected as part of the Adolescent Depression Antidepressants and Psychotherapy Trial, a randomised controlled trial of selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors with and without cognitive behaviour therapy in 208 clinic-recruited adolescents with major
depression. The baseline severity of depression in the adolescent was significantly associated with both maternal and paternal
mental health (as rated by the General Health Questionnaire). This effect was not confounded by other psychiatric symptoms.
The degree of improvement in parental and child mental health was positively correlated across time. Our results support the
hypothesis that there is a significant association between parental mental health and adolescent depressive symptoms. This
study was not able to establish the direction of this association. In clinical practice, the findings demonstrate the importance
of considering the mental health of the parents when treating depressed adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0310-9
- Authors
- Paul O. Wilkinson, Section of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK
- Claire Harris, NHS Cambridgeshire, G49 Oak Tree Centre, 1 Oak Drive, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 7LA UK
- Raphael Kelvin, Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust, Brookside Family Consultation Clinic, 18d Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK
- Bernadka Dubicka, The Junction Adolescent Unit, University of Manchester and Lancashire Care Foundation Trust, Scotforth, Piccadilly, Lancaster, LA1 4PW UK
- Ian M. Goodyer, Section of Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH UK
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827