Children Of Depressed Mothers Research Articles

The impact of perinatal maternal mental health disorders on the child’s health

Perinatal mental disorders constitute an important health and social problem. Pre- and postnatal depression affects both the mother and her child. The most common postpartum mental health disorders include the so-called baby blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Depression in pregnancy is associated with a greater risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Depression during pregnancy has also been linked to diabetes and preeclampsia. Furthermore, the influence of maternal mental disorders on the development of allergic diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders in the child has been proven. Perinatal depression can lead to impaired bonding between mother and child, which has a long-term impact on the child’s emotional and social development. Perinatal depression may also affect both mental development and the occurrence of somatic diseases in children. The main mental disorders observed in the children of mothers with perinatal depression include behavioural problems, destructive behaviour, anxiety disorders and insecurity. An increased risk of atopic dermatitis and recurrent upper and lower airway infections has been proven in children of depressed mothers. Considering the above, it seems obvious that the protection of the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women and children should be multifaceted and multi-tracked. Untreated depression may have long-term consequences on the child’s development.

Investigation of the relationship between the sense of coherence and the level of depression in mothers of children with autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder originating from early childhood. Although there are studies investigating the sense of coherence in caregivers of children with ASD, there is not a previous study in our country. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between the sense of coherence and depression levels in mothers of children with ASD. Seventy-five mothers of children followed up in rehabilitation centers with the diagnosis of ASD were included in this study. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Sense of Coherence Scale-13 (SOC-13) were administered to mothers. Participants were divided into two groups: a depressive group and a control group according to the BDI cut-off score. SOC-13 total score and sub-scores were compared between these groups. According to the BDI cut-off score, 45 participants (60%) were included in the depressive group. Total SOC-13 score and sub-scores were found to be statistically significantly lower in the depressive group compared with the control group. Our study is the first study in our country to examine the relationship between the sense of coherence and depression in mothers of children with ASD. The results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between depression scores and sense of coherence. It is predicted that psychological interventions that will improve the sense of coherence of mothers with children with ASD may play an important role in the treatment of depression, thus leading to an increase in the quality of care provided by parents.

THE BURGEONING BURDEN OF PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH IN LOWER MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

THE BURGEONING BURDEN OF PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH IN LOWER MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

Investigating Postpartum Depression in Mothers of Children With Cleft Lip and Palate

Background and Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a subtype of major depressive disorder, which is correlated with having an infant with cleft lip and palate (CL/P). Since there is a dearth of research in this regard, this study compares mothers of infants with CL/P and mothers of normal infants in terms of PPD and suicidal thoughts. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 50 mothers of children with CL/P and 50 mothers of normal children who had recently given birth and presented to the Research Center of Cranial Deformities, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan City, Iran, from September 2020 and 2021. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used to assess PPD. Results: The mean PPD score was 15.42±4.77 (range=5-24) and 10.3±6.7 (range=0-29) in mothers of children with CLP and those with normal children, respectively. The frequency of PPD was significantly higher among the mothers of CLP children, compared to mothers of normal children (χ2=25.25, P<0.005). No difference was reported between the mothers with PPD and those without it in terms of educational level (χ2=0.36, P=0.83), occupational status (χ2=0.13, P=0.71), or parity (P=0.93). Having suicidal thoughts had no significant correlation with having CL/P children (P=0.11). Conclusions: The PPD score and frequency of PPD were higher among mothers of children with CLP, compared with mothers of normal children; however, the frequency of suicidal thoughts was not significantly different between the two groups. Educational level, occupational status, and parity were not correlated with PPD or suicidal thoughts.

Sleep quality and depression in mothers of children with epilepsy and its relation to their children’s sleep

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sleep disturbances in children with epilepsy (CWE) and maternal sleep quality and depression severity. MethodsA Cross-sectional study was conducted in pediatric sleep disturbances using questionnaires on mother-reported sleep of CWE [Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ)], maternal sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)], and maternal depression status [Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS)]. 114 dyads consisting of CWE and their mothers were included in this study. ResultsOver three-quarters (78.9 %) of mothers reported poor sleep quality (total PSQI score ≥ 5), and nearly a third (29.8 %) met clinical criteria for moderate or severe depression levels. The mothers' total PSQI scores were between 5.93 ± 2.44 (range: 2–16 points). The most affected PSQI subcomponents were sleep latency (AUC = 0.826p < 0.001) and daytime dysfunction (AUC = 0.800p < 0.001). The majority of children (88.6 %) were stated by their mothers to have sleep-related problems. The total CSHQ scores of the children were between 49.06 ± 9.20 (range: 33–86 points). The most affected CSHQ subcomponents were detected sleep anxiety (AUC = 0.856, p < 0.001), bedtime resistance (AUC = 0.818, p < 0.001) and daytime sleepiness (AUC = 0.807, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between maternal sleep quality and depression severity (rho = 0.842; p < 0.001). A statistically significant positive moderate correlation was detected between sleep problems in CWE and maternal sleep quality and depression severity (rho = 0.406; p < 0.001, rho = 0.399; p < 0.001, respectively). As a result of multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis, the presence of seizures during sleep and generalized epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography were associated risk factors with poor maternal sleep quality (OR:6.6, p = 0.014; OR:11.5, p = 0.018, respectively). A borderline insignificant relationship was observed between a less than 50 % decrease in seizure frequency and the poor maternal sleep quality (OR:20.59p = 0.059). Seizures during sleep was associated risk factor with children's sleep disturbances (OR:7.2, p = 0.02). ConclusionsSleep problems in CWE may lead to negative consequences such as sleep quality and/or depression in mothers. Interventions planned to correct sleep disturbances in mothers suggest that children's sleep problems should be optimally managed.

Prenatal serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant exposure, SLC6A4 genetic variations, and cortisol activity in 6-year-old children of depressed mothers: A cohort study.

Prenatal exposure to maternal depression and serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants both affect the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system, possibly via the neurotransmitter serotonin (5HT). In a community cohort, we investigated the impact of two factors that shape prenatal 5HT signaling (prenatal SRI [pSRI] exposure and child SLC6A4 genotype) on HPA activity at age 6years. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to study associations between cortisol reactivity, pSRI exposure, and child SLC6A4 genotype, controlling for maternal depression, child age, and sex (48 pSRI exposed, 74 nonexposed). Salivary cortisol levels were obtained at five time points during a laboratory stress challenge: arrival at the laboratory, following two sequential developmental assessments, and then 20 and 40min following the onset of a stress-inducing cognitive/social task. Cortisol decreased from arrival across both developmental assessments, and then increased across both time points following the stress challenge in both groups. pSRI-exposed children had lower cortisol levels across all time points. In a separate GEE model, we observed a lower cortisol stress response among children with LG /S alleles compared with children with La/La alleles, and this was particularly evident among children of mothers reporting greater third trimester depressed mood. Our findings suggest that pSRI exposure and a genetic factor associated with modulating 5HT signaling shaped HPA reactivity to a laboratory stress challenge at school age.

Targeting positive valence systems function in children of mothers with depressive symptoms: A pilot randomized trial of an RDoC-Informed preventive intervention

Reduced activation of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) positive valence systems (PVS) is observed in high-risk (HR) children of depressed mothers and predictive of future psychopathologies. We developed a dyadic, neuroscience-informed preventive intervention, Family Promoting Positive Emotions (FPPE), designed to prevent psychopathology in HR children by targeting PVS processes. We evaluated the initial efficacy of FPPE compared to written information (WI) psychoeducation in engaging PVS-related targets and reducing perceived stress and emotional distress symptoms in HR youth. Participants included 74 children ages 8–12 years and their biological mothers reporting elevated depressive symptoms. Following random assignment, 55 dyads completed FPPE (n = 29) or WI (n = 26) and pre-post assessments of child clinical symptoms. Youth completed a reinforcement learning task and 10 days of positive affect ratings to assess PVS-related targets. Results revealed a small within-subjects increase in child daily positive affect in FPPE, but not WI. Further, FPPE resulted in reductions in mother-reported child perceived stress and symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression with medium-to-large within-subjects effects. Intervention effects on reinforcement learning and child-rated clinical symptoms were not observed. This study suggests FPPE shows promise in enhancing positive affect and reducing the emergence of clinical symptoms in HR children. Clinicaltrials.gov identifierNCT05223842.

Spirituality and depression in mothers of children with leukemia

ABSTRACT Childhood cancer can affect meaning of life as well as spirituality, causing significant changes in the family members’ life, accordingly, the present study investigated the relationship between depression and spirituality among mothers of children with cancer. This study is a descriptive-analytical research of correlation type was conducted on 70 mothers of children with cancer in 2019 by available sample method. The measurement instruments utilized included “Beck depression inventory-II,” and spiritual attitude assessment” questionnaires. Results of this study indicated an inverse correlation between depression and spirituality in mothers of children with cancer. It seems that promoting the spiritual attitude of mothers can help them cope with depression.

Assessment of Depression in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Background: Mothers of children with various degrees of impairment may bear a high amount of stress. Children with chronic medical disorders lead their moms to experience sadness, mental distress, and behavior problems. Aim: To determine the frequency of depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in OPD of Neurology and Development Department, Children's Hospital Lahore in six months after the approval of synopsis August 20, 2020 till Feb 20, 2020. After taking written informed consent, 196 CP children's mothers were enrolled. Demographic information (including name, age) was also recorded. After admission to hospital detailed history and thorough clinical examinations were carried out to reach the provisional diagnosis. Results: The mean age of children was 6.65±2.23 years with age range of 3 and 10 years. There were 109(55.6%) male and 87(44.4%) female cases with higher male to female ratio. The mean age of mothers was 37.92±7.69 years with age range of 25 and 50 years. There were 115(58.7%) mothers who had depression and 81(41.3%) mothers did not have depression. There were 81(41.3%) mothers who had normal, 33(16.8%) had mild mood disturbance, 24(12.2%) mothers had borderline clinical depression, 23(11.7%) mothers had moderate depression and 35(17.9%) mother had severe depression. Practical implication: This study identifies a greater risk of depression in mothers of CP children, so by the help of this study we can identify such mothers at follow up of CP children and can give them psychiatric attention which can decrease mental health issues in them and would be beneficial for both the mother and their CP children. Conclusion: Depression among mothers of CP child was higher in this study, so these mothers must be given attention through psychiatric education and mental health programs to reduce their depression at the time of their CP children follow up. Keywords: Depression, care taker, disability, cerebral palsy, mental health

High rates of anxiety detected in mothers of children with inconclusive cystic fibrosis screening results

ObjectiveThe purpose was to assess postpartum depression, anxiety, and depression in mothers of children with an inconclusive diagnosis after a positive cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS), known as cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-related metabolic syndrome (CRMS) or CF screen positive, inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID). There is limited information on the prognosis and on the impact of this designation on maternal mental health. MethodsMothers of children with CRMS/CFSPID and CF identified by NBS were recruited from two centers in California. Maternal mental health was assessed using measures of depression, anxiety, and a scripted interview. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were applied for data reporting. ResultsA total of 109 mothers were recruited: CF: 51, CRMS/CFSPID: 58. Mothers from both groups showed higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms than women in the general population. CRMS/CFSPID and CF mothers had no significant difference on their self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression after adjusting for potential confounders. Mothers equally reported that their child's diagnosis had a negative impact, and that genetic counseling had a positive impact on their emotional health. ConclusionsCF and CRMS/CFSPID diagnoses impact maternal mental health similarly. Uncertain prognosis of CRMS/CFSPID likely contributed to the negative mental health impact. Providers should consider conducting mental health screening for every mother of a child with CRMS/CFSPID, in addition to the recommended mental health screening for mothers of children with CF. Genetic counseling has potential to mitigate emotional stress on these families.

Prevalence and prediction of PTSD and depression in mothers of children surviving a motor vehicle crash

ABSTRACT Introduction: Few studies have examined the psychopathological consequences for parents of children who were survivors of a motor vehicle crash (MVC). This study assessed the impact of dissociation and peritraumatic distress on the severity of PTSD and post-traumatic major depressive episode (MDE) symptoms in mothers during the first years after the MVC and the role that cortisol response might play in this association. Methods: 125 mothers were included. Peritraumatic distress and dissociation were assessed. Morning salivary cortisol was tested at the baseline. Participants were assessed for a probable diagnosis of PTSD and MDE at 5 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. Results: At 5 weeks, 12 (13.6%) mothers exhibited probable PTSD. During the first year, the PCL score was higher when the (i) Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) score increased and (ii) the Peritraumatic Dissociation Experience Questionnaire (PDEQ) score increased. Cortisol levels were lower when the PDI score increased. Conclusion: This is the first study to assess the mothers of MVC survivors for one year following the trauma. We confirm that peritraumatic responses are useful for predicting the severity of PTSD symptoms. These results could encourage the implementation of follow-up programmes not only for survivors but also for their mothers. HIGHLIGHTS Mothers of children involved in motor vehicle accident are at risk for developing PTSD. Peritraumatic responses (distress and dissociation) are associated to the severity of PTSD symptoms. Low salivary cortisol levels were associated with high peritraumatic distress.

Severity of Depression in Mothers of children suffering from Cerebral Palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in children with worldwide having incidence of 2 per 1000 live births. Children with CP have motor disability, decreased ability to walk, poor feeding and limited exposure to sunlight. Malnutrition, behavior challenges and motor deficits in CP children are common causes of depression in their mothers. Aim: The present study focused to estimate the severity of depression in mothers, looking after the children suffering from severe CP and to compare their depression scoring with the scores of mothers having healthy children. Methods: The cross-sectional comparative study included 21 mothers having children suffering from severe CP and 21 controls (Mothers of normal children). Depression was calculated by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of BDI II between the two groups Conclusion: Results revealed that mothers having CP children are more depressed than mothers having healthy children. It imitates the importance of psychiatric, social and family support to mother along with the treatment of the child. Keywords: CP, depression, BDI II.

High Depressive Symptoms, Low Family Functioning, and Low Self-Efficacy in Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared to Two Control Groups.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges in raising their children, and they are at higher risk for depression compared to parents of children with typical development (TD) and other disabilities. (1) To compare prevalence of depressive symptoms among mothers of children with ASD (n = 101), Down syndrome (DS, n = 101), and TD (n = 43) and (2) to describe the relationships among depression, self-efficacy, and family functioning, and describe the mediating role of maternal child care self-efficacy between depressive symptoms and child behavior. In this cross-sectional study, mothers completed the Social Communication Questionnaire, Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Family Assessment Device General Functioning Scale, and Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale. Mothers of children with ASD had significantly higher mean PHQ-9 scores (p < .001), higher proportion of positive depression screening (p < .001), and lower family functioning (p < .001). Better family functioning is associated with less depression, better self-efficacy, and less severe ASD symptoms and behaviors. Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between depression and child ASD symptoms, and problematic behavior. The rates of reported history of depression and low family functioning in mothers of children with ASD are twice the rate in mothers of children with DS and TD. Maternal child care self-efficacy is protective against maternal depression, even in the presence of severe child problematic behaviors and ASD symptoms. Interventions that increase child care self-efficacy and family functioning may be helpful in addressing depression in mothers of children with ASD.

The Relationship Between Lifestyle and Attachment to God With Depression Mediated by Quality of Life Among Mothers of Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Background: Mothers often bear a heavy psychological burden in society because of their disabled children. As mothers often spend more time taking care of these children, they are exposed to different types of stress and mental disorders. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and attachment to God with depression with the mediating role of Quality of Life (QoL) in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted using path analysis. The statistical population comprised all the mothers of children with IDs in Tehran, Iran in 2020. Among the study population, a total of 213 mothers were selected as the sample via convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), the attachment to God questionnaire, the lifestyle assessment inventory (LSI), and the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire-short form (WHOQoL-BREF). The proposed model was evaluated via structural equation modeling (SEM), and the indirect relationships were tested via bootstrapping. Results: The results showed a direct and significant relationship between attachment to God and QoL (β=0.40, P=0.001), and between lifestyle and QoL (β=0.31, P=0.001). There was a negative relationship between attachment to God and depression (β=-0.40, P=0.001), in addition to QoL and depression (β=-0.37, P=0.001). The results of the indirect path analysis showed the mediating role of QoL in the relationship between attachment to God and lifestyle with depression (P=0.001). Conclusion: The results confirmed the proposed model’s goodness of fit; therefore, this model can expand our understanding of the factors affecting depression in mothers of children with IDs to design preventive programs to mitigate their stress and depression.

The Moderating Effect of Social Support on Parental Stress and Depression in Mothers of Children with Disabilities.

Purpose Mothers caring for children with disabilities often experience parental stress, which may lead them to suffer from depression. It is necessary to find a way to relieve their stress and depression. Therefore, we examined the effect of parental stress on depression and the buffering role of social support between them in a sample of 164 mothers of children with disabilities. Participants. One hundred and sixty-four participants (aged 25–58 years) in Gwangju and Jeollanamdo, South Korea, completed a set of self-reported measures. Methods Parental stress, depression, and social support are assessed by Parental Stress Index, Multidimensional Scale Perceived Social Support, and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, respectively. Results Parental stress significantly predicted depression, and social support showed the buffering effect on the relationship between parental stress and depression among mothers of children with disabilities. These findings indicate that mothers who perceive a high level of social support are less likely to experience depression. Conclusions This study shows the moderating effect of social support on the relationship between parental stress and depression among mothers of children with disabilities. The level of depression they experience is not that great if they perceive a high level of social support even if they experience a high level of parental stress. These findings imply that social support is a critical resource that prevents the negative effect of parental stress on depression among mothers of children with disabilities.

The positive impact of maternal depression intervention on children's emotional and behavioral symptoms in a low-resource setting.

Children of depressed mothers are at risk of developing mental health problems. We sought to determine whether treatment for maternal depression delivered by community health workers (CHW) would decrease behavioral/emotional symptoms in their child. An intervention treating maternal depressive symptoms in a low-middle-income country can have a high global impact. CHW were trained to deliver a psychosocial intervention for mothers with depression in a primary care setting. 49 mothers and 60 children were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 6-months follow-up. Child behavioral/emotional symptoms were evaluated by type of change in maternal depressive symptoms: remission and response. An overall decrease in maternal depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention and 6-month follow-up were found. Remission and response of maternal depression was associated with better outcomes related to child´s behavioral/emotional symptoms at the 6-month follow-up (p = 0.0247, Cohen's d: 0.76; p = 0.0224, Cohen's f: 0.44) but not at post-intervention (p = 0.1636, Cohen's d: 0.48; p = 0.0720, Cohen's f: 0.33). Maternal depression improvement was related to their child's decreased behavioral/emotional symptoms. Our results suggest that interventions addressing maternal depression in primary care is a viable strategy to prevent behavioral/emotional symptoms in the next generation.

Relationship among Gross Motor Function, Parenting Stress, Sense of Control, and Depression in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy and parenting stress, sense of control, and depression in their mothers. Data were collected from 247 children with cerebral palsy and their mothers. To verify the relationship among variables, path analysis was performed. The control variables included the sex and age of the children. The proposed model showed good fit indices. Gross motor function had an indirect effect on parenting stress and depression and a direct effect on parenting stress and self-control (as parenting sense of control). Parenting stress had an indirect effect on depression and a direct effect on self-control and depression. This result suggests the importance of improving the gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy and self-control in the mothers, as well as decreasing parenting stress to reduce the level of the mothers’ depression. Considering the mediating effect of self-control on depression, programs designed to enhance self-control could be effective in decreasing depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy.

Correlation between Child Behavior and Depression in Mother with Autism Spectrum Disorders Child

Background: The behavioural characteris­tics of an autistic child can lead to challenging relationships with the mother. For mothers who serve as the key person in the care of their children with ASD, maintaining good mental health, which may be directly related to the growth and development of their children, is an important issue for professionals engaged in parenting support. The aim of this study was to determine the interaction between the behavioural problems of children with ASD (from toddlers to adolescents) and their mothers’ depression. Subjects and Method: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The recruitment of subjects was through a paediatric out-patient unit. Eighty-six mothers with ASD participated in this observational study. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale was used as a measure of depression in mothers, and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) was used as an assessment of the children’s behavioral characteristics. The prevalence of depression among mothers of children with ASD was estimated and related factors were also examined. Results: There were 66 boys (76.7%), 12 girls (14.0%) and 8 (9.3%) non-responders. Comparing the pre- adolescent and adolescent groups, there were significant differences in the ages of mothers and children (P &lt;0.001). In this study, the prevalence rate of depression in mothers of children with ASD was 47.7% (95% CI= 36.8 to 58.7), and the prevalence rate of depression in mothers of adolescent children group was 48.6% (95% CI= 31.4 to 6.0). The predictive factors of maternal depression were others’ problems (toileting problems, and masturbation) in CBCL and children’s age group. Conclusion: These children’s behavioural characteristics were recognised as serious problems by their mothers, which in turn can negatively affect their mental health, particularly the depression of mothers in the adolescent group was probably due to concerns about their children’s unsocial behaviour.

Aspects of motor development and quality of life in the context of child obesity

Introduction: Child development is a period of progressive and complex transformations related to growth, maturation, learning, motor skills, and psychosocial issues. Objective: Analyze the influence of obesity on the aspects of motor development and quality of life of children aged three to eight years, and and their mothers’ levels of anxiety and depression. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive and quantitative approach study with children enrolled and attended at a pediatric endocrinology in Fortaleza, CE, in the period between June and November 2017. The study sample consisted of 24 children from three to eight years of age. We used the anthropometric quantification, the Motor Development Scale, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) for children. We applied the Beck anxiety and depression questionnaires for mothers. Results: 16 were female, and 17 were severely obese. Most of the sample showed motor development changes 42,85% classified as “inferior” in the obesity category, and 41.17% in the severely obese category. Both groups revealed”complete right-handed” and “undefined” laterality in around 40% of the individuals. The quality of life had a low mean score. The majority of mothers from both groups presented minimal anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Obesity interferes negatively with the overall motor development, determination of laterality, and quality of life of children, perceiving more severe levels of anxiety and depression in mothers of children severely obesity.

PROBLEM DIAGNOZOWANIA DEPRESJI U MATEK DZIECI Z ZESPOŁEM DOWNA

Artykuł jest poświęcony istotnej problematyce społecznej, jaką jest diagnozowanie depresji u matek dzieci z zespołem Downa. Artykuł ma charakter badawczy, został opracowany na podstawie wywiadów z matkami w depresji, które wychowują dziecko z zespołem Downa (trzy studia przypadku). W toku badań usta-lono m.in., że zdiagnozowanie depresji u badanych kobiet spowodowało u nich więk-szą świadomość własnych problemów, pozwoliło im na dokonywanie zmian w kie-runku radzenia sobie z trudnościami, przyczyniło się do poszukiwania wewnętrznych i zewnętrznych zasobów do walki z depresją oraz do zmiany w relacjach rodzinnych. Konieczne było wypracowanie zasad współpracy pomiędzy członkami rodziny.