Expressed Emotion in Mothers of Currently Depressed, Remitted, High-Risk, and Low-Risk Youth: Links to Child Depression Status and Longitudinal Course

Abstract

This study examined expressed emotion in the families of children and adolescents who were (a) in a current episode of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), (b) in remission from a past episode of MDD, (c) at high familial risk for developing MDD, and (d) low-risk controls. Participants were 109 mother–child dyads (children ages 8–19). Expressed emotion was assessed using the Five Minute Speech Sample, and psychiatric follow-ups were conducted annually. Mothers of children with a current or remitted episode of MDD and at high risk for MDD were more likely to be rated high on criticism than mothers of controls. There were no differences in critical expressed emotion among mothers of children in the current, remitted, or high-risk for depression groups. Higher initial critical expressed emotion was associated with a greater likelihood of having a future onset of a depressive episode in high-risk and depressed participants. Diagnostic groups did not differ in Emotional Overinvolvement.