PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN THE RELATIVES OF DEPRESSED-ABUSED CHILDREN

Objective: To determine if the type of symptomatology abused children manifest is related to family history of psychopathology. Method: Life time history of psychopathology was assessed in the relatives of 26 pr eadolescents-13 depressed abused (MDD-AB) and 13 depressed nonabused ( MDD-NA) children. Rates of disorder in the relatives of these children were compared to published rates of psychopathology in relatives of 2 7 normal control (NC) children. Data were obtained on 104 first-degree relatives (MDD-AB = 25, MDD-NA = 29, NC = 50) and 503 second-degree r elatives (MDD-AB = 127, MDD-NA = 117, NC = 259). The Schedule for Affe ctive Disorders and Schizophrenia was used to assess psychopathology i n parents, and Family History method was used to obtain lifetime psych iatric data for all other relatives. Results: When compared to first-d egree relatives of NC children, first-degree relatives of MDD-AB child ren had approximately a nine-fold increased risk for major depression, and a three-to nine-fold increased risk for other disorders associate d with the familial subtype of affective illness known as Depression S pectrum Disease (e.g., antisocial personality, alcohol and substance d ependence). Similar findings were reported in second-degree relatives, and comparisons between the relatives of MDD-NA and NC children. Conc lusion: The findings extend results of prior research and (1) suggest familial vulnerability factors influence the symptom profile of abused children; and (2) highlight the value of incorporating psychiatric fo rmulations into multidisciplinary models of child abuse research and t reatment programs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.