Differences in the Clinical Profile of Adolescents and Young Adults with Major Depressive Disorder Across Parental History Groups

Abstract

An important causal factor of depression is family history ¾ there is compelling evidence that Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is familial. Although the connection between a maternal history of depression and offspring risk is well established, paternal history has been largely ignored in research thus far. The first goal of this study is to examine differences in the clinical profile of MDD across parental depression history groups (i.e., both-parent history versus maternal history only versus paternal history only versus no parental history). Based on previous findings, I predict that the severity of the clinical course of MDD (as operationalized by a higher severity of depression and anxiety symptoms, an increased likelihood of recurrence, and a greater likelihood of a comorbid anxiety disorder) will be highest for offspring with a both-parent history of depression, followed by those with a maternal history only, followed by individuals with a paternal history only, and lastly by offspring with no parental history of depression. The second goal is to determine if the group differences hypothesized above are further moderated by offspring sex. To date, very little is known about how parental history influences the clinical presentation of MDD in depressed offspring. This study will contribute to a limited body of research, and is unique in that it will include four parental history groups as well as offspring sex in its analyses. The study will use a quasi-archival sample of approximately 250 participants between 12 and 29 years of age, who have been diagnosed with MDD.