Perceived family functioning in depressed C hinese couples: A cross‐sectional study

This study investigated family functioning in C hinese couples with a first episode of major depression, and in normal controls, and examined the association between depression severity and family impairment. Seventy‐four patients with a first episode of major depression and 73 normal controls, together with their respective spouses, were assessed using the F amily A ssessment D evice and B eck D epression I nventory. Patients with a first episode of major depression reported significantly higher F amily A ssessment D evice scores for all dimensions compared with normal controls. B eck D epression I nventory scores were positively associated with F amily A ssessment D evice scores for patients with a first episode of major depression for five dimensions, but not for affective responsiveness and affective involvement. A first episode of major depression was thus associated with impaired family functioning in C hinese families, and depression severity was positively associated with family impairment for the depressed patients. These findings indicate the importance of including family interventions in the treatment of C hinese patients with a first episode of major depression.