FAMILY PROCESSES IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

\Anxiety and depression tend to run in families. This paper reviews so me of the family processes that are implicated in the development, mai ntenance, and treatment of these problems in children and adolescents. Empirical studies and our theoretical review show that social learnin g processes within the context of intimate relationships are important in the development of anxiety and depression. Family processes have b een shown to be important in the treatment of anxiety disorders but pa rallel evidence is lacking with regard to depression in adolescents. T wo models are shown to have demonstrated explanatory power and empiric al support: social learning theory and attachment theory. Examples are given of how these models can be contrasted and integrated at both cl inical and theoretical levels.