ABSTRACT
The phenotypic indicators of the genomic imprinting model were applied to clinical psychopathology data on 100 bipolar (BP) I probands and their families. The paternal transmission was associated with a significantly younger age of onset of the BP illness in probands and a higher rate of affective disorders in first- and second-degree relatives. The effect of the sex of the transmitting parent on age of onset in probands decreased but remained significant when controlling for the effect of the probands' age at investigation. Probands' sex had no significant influence on their age of onset. The severity of the BP illness in probands in terms of number of illness episodes and annual frequency was not influenced by the sex of the transmitting parent.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/genetics , Genomic Imprinting , Phenotype , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Female , Genetic Carrier Screening , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Genetic , PrognosisABSTRACT
Ninety-six children aged 10-17 of unipolar endogenous depressive proband parents and 96 matched control children of well parents were investigated using DSM-IIIR diagnostic criteria. Both sets of parents were also studied. Although the rate of psychopathology was significantly higher in proband than in control children, adaptive functioning as a measure of the severity of the psychopathology did not differentiate the two groups of children. Among factors related to the mental status of the children were: severity and onset under 30 years of age of the parental depression and lifelong association of parental anxiety with depression. Personality measurements performed in children showed different personality structures in proband offspring. Data on adolescent psychopathology and personality showed little evidence of a homotypic relationship with the adult affective disorders.
Subject(s)
Child of Impaired Parents/psychology , Depressive Disorder/genetics , Personality Development , Social Environment , Adolescent , Child , Child Behavior Disorders/diagnosis , Child Behavior Disorders/genetics , Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Intelligence , Male , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Disorders/genetics , Personality Disorders/psychology , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Seventy two children aged 10-17 of 42 endogenous unipolar depressive parents (proband children) and 72 children aged 10-17 of 66 normal parental couples (control children) were studied. Overall rate of psychopathology (disorders present at the time of investigation and one year before) reached 51% in proband children and 29% in control children. Depressive disorder rate reached 10% in proband children and 4% in control children. The sex of the depressive parent did not influence the psychopathology rate in offspring, while the early age of onset of the illness (under 30 years) in parent increased the psychopathology risk in children. The severity of the psychopathology in children defined as functional impairment was significantly dependent on the severity of the depressive illness in proband parent, the presence of psychopathology in the spouse of the depressive parent, the presence of psychopathology in the relatives of both parents, the socio-cultural level of the family and the violence expressed in the familial atmosphere.
Subject(s)
Child of Impaired Parents/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Social Environment , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Depressive Disorder/genetics , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Seventy-two proband children aged 10-17 of bipolar parents, matched with 72 control children of normal parents, were investigated using DSM-III diagnostic criteria and multiple sources of information. The psychopathology rate in children (61% in probands versus 25% in controls) was related to the impact of psychic disorders on the children's adaptive functioning. The effect of several variables describing the psychiatric status of both parents and familial environment on the severity of psychopathology in children was analysed. Disordered and non-disordered probands were compared with respect to illness characteristics of their parents, familial environment, personality traits, and IQ by means of canonical discriminant analysis.
