An examination of the association between the 5-HTT promoter region polymorphism and depressogenic attributional styles in childhood.

Although a vast literature examining the role of attributional styles in depression has accumulated, the origins of such cognitions remain poorly understood. Investigators are increasingly interested in whether cognitive vulnerability to depression is linked to genetic variation. As a preliminary test of this hypothesis, we examined whether the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) was associated with attributional styles in children.

Intergenerational transmission of internalizing problems: effects of parental and grandparental major depressive disorder on child behavior.

Effects of lifetime histories of grandparental (G1) and parental (G2) major depressive disorder (MDD) on children's (G3) internalizing problems were investigated among 267 G3 children (ages 2-18 years) who received Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ratings and had diagnostic data available on 267 biological G2 parents and 527 biological G1 grandparents. Results indicated that G1 MDD conferred risk for G2 MDD, but not for G3 CBCL scores. G2 MDD predicted higher G3 Internalizing and Anxious/Depressed scores.

Influence of parental and grandparental major depressive disorder on behavior problems in early childhood: a three-generation study.

Objective: This aim of this study was to examine the influence of grandparental (G1) and parental (G2) major depressive disorder (MDD) and other forms of psychopathology on behavior problems in very young offspring (G3).

Method: Oregon Adolescent Depression Project (OADP) participants who had children over a 3-year period were invited to participate in a study of infant and child development. We attempted to collect diagnostic history from the original OADP (G2) participants, their coparents, the parents of the original OADP participants (G1), and the parents of the coparents.

Retrospective reports of parenting in depressed adults with and without comorbid panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Previous research has examined the role of parenting in the development of depression and anxiety disorders using retrospective reports of parenting behaviors. However, most studies have not considered comorbidity; the few that have did not differentially examine individual anxiety disorders and yielded inconsistent results. The present study compared retrospective parenting reports given by depressed individuals with no comorbid anxiety disorder, comorbid panic disorder, and comorbid social anxiety disorder.

Early-emerging cognitive vulnerability to depression and the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism.

Background: Serotonin transporter promoter (5-HTTLPR) genotype appears to increase risk for depression in the context of stressful life events. However, the effects of this genotype on measures of stress sensitivity are poorly understood. Therefore, this study examined whether 5-HTTLPR genotype was associated with negative information processing biases in early childhood.

Longitudinal associations between depressive and anxiety disorders: a comparison of two trait models.

Background: Depression and anxiety are highly co-morbid disorders. Two latent trait models have been proposed to explain the nature of the relationship between these disorders. The first posits that depressive and anxiety disorders are both manifestations of a single internalizing factor.

Stability of laboratory-assessed temperamental emotionality traits from ages 3 to 7.

A key component of temperament models is the presumed temporal stability of temperament traits. Although a substantial literature using parent report measures has addressed this claim, very few investigations have examined the stability of temperament using alternative measurement strategies, particularly those that involve direct assessment of emotional expressions. This study reports on the relative stability and heterotypic continuity of temperament traits measured via laboratory tasks and maternal report in a sample of children assessed at ages 3, 5, and 7, focusing on Positive Emotionality and Negative Emotionality.

Temperamental fearfulness in childhood and the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism: a multimethod association study.

Objectives: Early-emerging, temperamental differences in fear-related traits may be a heritable vulnerability factor for anxiety disorders. Previous research indicates that the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism is a candidate gene for such traits.

Methods: Associations between 5-HTTLPR genotype and indices of fearful child temperament, derived from maternal report and standardized laboratory observations, were examined in a community sample of 95 preschool-aged children.

Sibling similarity for MDD: evidence for shared familial factors.

Background: Sibling designs have the potential to identify familial factors that are shared and unshared between siblings. Unfortunately, this methodology has rarely been applied to mood disorders.

Methods: The current study uses the original participants from the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project (OADP) and their closest-aged sibling to investigate familial influences on sibling similarity and differences for psychopathology.

Positive emotionality at age 3 predicts cognitive styles in 7-year-old children.

This study examined associations between temperament at age 3 and depressotypic cognitive styles at age 7 in a community sample of children. Sixty-four preschool aged children were assessed for positive emotionality (PE) and negative emotionality (NE) using a standardized battery of laboratory tasks and naturalistic home observations. At follow-up 4 years later, the children completed laboratory tasks designed to tap helplessness in social and problem-solving situations, positive and negative information-processing biases, and self-reports of attributional style.

Psychosocial impairment in offspring of depressed parents.

Background: Offspring of depressed parents experience impairment in a number of domains of functioning. Few studies have examined the impact of both maternal and paternal depression and co-morbid psychopathology on offspring functioning.

Method: Oregon Adolescent Depression Project participants were administered diagnostic interviews and completed measures of psychosocial functioning during adolescence (mean = 16.

Toward guidelines for evidence-based assessment of depression in children and adolescents.

We aim to provide a starting point toward the development of an evidence-based assessment of depression in children and adolescents. We begin by discussing issues relevant to the diagnosis and classification of child and adolescent depression. Next, we review the prevalence, selected clinical correlates, course, and treatment of juvenile depression.

Psychopathology in the adolescent and young adult offspring of a community sample of mothers and fathers with major depression.

Background: There is a large literature indicating that the offspring of mothers with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are at increased risk for depression. However, much less is known about the effects of paternal MDD on offspring psychopathology.

Method: We addressed this issue using a large community sample of parents and their adolescent and young adult offspring (n = 775).