Follow-up studies on the offspring of parents with psychiatric disorders offer the opportunity to study the influence of parental disorders on both the incidence and course of psychopathology in their children. Using this study design, we are examining the impact of parental psychopathology and potential individual risk factors on the course of depression in childhood and adolescence.

As part of a family study, we have collected extensive clinical information on 59 probands with bipolar disorder, 50 probands with major depressive disorder, 29 probands with alcohol or heroin dependence and 45 medical controls with children in the age range from 7 to 17 years (N=283). Probands and their spouses have been interviewed using the DIGS, offspring using the K-SADS. Parents have also provided diagnostic information on their children using the FH-RDC. Both offspring and parents have been followed up every three years, which will make it possible to prospectively test predictors of course in children.

Collection of follow-up data is ongoing. The main results regarding the impact of parental and individual risk factors on the course of depression in children in terms of long-term social impairment and the presence of episodes at later follow-up exams will be presented at the conference. The individual risk factors examined will include the sex, birth weight and personality of children, the age of onset of depression, the presence of comorbid disorders, parenting attitudes and familial functioning.

clinical and research implications of the results will be discussed.