Remission of maternal depression: relations to family functioning and youth internalizing and externalizing symptoms

J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2008 Oct;37(4):714-24. doi: 10.1080/15374410802359726.

Abstract

Family functioning and parenting were hypothesized to mediate the relation between remission of maternal depression and children's psychosocial adjustment. Participants were 114 mother-child dyads participating in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression Child 3-month follow-up. All mothers had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and were treated initially with citalopram; 33% of mothers experienced remission of depressive symptoms. Youth ranged in age from 7 to 17. Remission of maternal depression was associated with changes in children's reports of their mothers' warmth/acceptance, which in turn partially mediated the relation between maternal depression remission and youth internalizing symptoms, accounting for 22.9% of the variance.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child of Impaired Parents / psychology*
  • Citalopram / therapeutic use
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Conduct Disorder / diagnosis
  • Conduct Disorder / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy
  • Family Relations*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior / drug effects
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Social Adjustment
  • Social Environment

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Citalopram