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Does major depressive disorder in parents predict specific fears and phobias in offspring?
Author(s) -
Biel Matthew G.,
Klein Rachel G.,
Mannuzza Salvatore,
Roizen Erica R.,
Truong Nhan L.,
RobersonNay Roxann,
Pine Daniel S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20383
Subject(s) - phobias , offspring , anxiety , major depressive disorder , psychology , psychopathology , specific phobia , anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , psychiatry , conduct disorder , pregnancy , mood , macroeconomics , biology , economics , genetics
Evidence suggests a relationship between parental depression and phobias in offspring as well as links between childhood fears and risk for major depression. This study examines the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders in parents and specific fears and phobias in offspring. Three hundred and eighteen children of parents with lifetime MDD, anxiety disorder, MDD+anxiety disorder, or neither were psychiatrically assessed via parent interview. Rates of specific phobias in offspring did not differ significantly across parental groups. Specific fears were significantly elevated in offspring of parents with MDD+anxiety disorder relative to the other groups (MDD, anxiety disorder, and controls, which did not differ). We failed to find increased phobias in offspring of parents with MDD without anxiety disorder. Elevated rates of specific fears in offspring of parents with MDD+anxiety disorder may be a function of more severe parental psychopathology, increased genetic loading, or unmeasured environmental influences. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–4, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.