Early-onset depression and the emotional and behavioral characteristics of offspring

We compared the emotional and behavioral characteristics of offspring of parents with early-onset depression and the offspring of parents with late-onset depression. Forty-three parents who met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) completed the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist-Parent Report Version (CBCL) for a birth child (n = 43, age range 6-17 years). Parents were classified as having either early SD onset (< 19 years) or late-onset (≥ 19 years) MDD based on responses gathered during the SCID-P interview. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare the two offspring groups on CBCL clinical and competency scales. Chi-square analyses and unpaired t-tests were used to compare the two parent groups on demographic and clinical features. Offspring of parents with early-onset depression scored significantly higher on the majority of the CBCL clinical scale scores when compared with offspring of parents with late-onset depression, rated as exhibiting higher levels of the characteristics measured: withdrawn, anxious/depressed, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior. Additionally, this group had a significantly higher total T score (a global measure of psychopathology) and significantly lower social functioning. Children of parents with early-onset depression may be at higher risk for behavioral and emotional problems than offspring of parents with late-onset depression. This finding may be significant in uncovering sources of vulnerability and formulating intervention strategies offspring of depressed parents.