Sibling similarity for MDD: evidence for shared familial factors.

Full Abstract

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. Diagnostic interviews were conducted with the original participants on three occasions and with full siblings and biological parents at the time of the third assessment.

RESULTS:
Maternal major depressive disorder (MDD) was associated with sibling similarity for MDD and anxiety disorders, and maternal anxiety disorder was associated with sibling similarity for MDD. A number of maternal and paternal disorders were associated with sibling differences for psychopathology. The data suggest that maternal MDD and anxiety disorder have a greater influence than paternal MDD and anxiety disorder in influencing sibling similarity for MDD.

LIMITATIONS:
Original participants were assessed on up to three occasions while their siblings were assessed only once.

CONCLUSIONS:
Maternal MDD and anxiety disorder appear to act as shared familial risk factors with respect to sibling MDD. In addition, parental psychopathology has non-shared influences on sib-pairs. Future research should assess differential parental treatment and individual sibling characteristics as additional factors that may influence sibling similarity and differences in psychopathology.

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Author information

Author/s: Olino, Thomas M (TM); Lewinsohn, Peter M (PM); Klein, Daniel N (DN);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, United States. tolino(-atsign-)ms.cc.sunysb.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of affective disorders (J Affect Disord), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 94 (issue 1-3) : pp 211-8

Dates: Created 2006/07/28; Completed 2007/01/09;

PMID: 16733071, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; genetics; psychology
Child of Impaired Parents - psychology
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; epidemiology; genetics; psychology
Fathers - psychology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans

Humans
Male
Mothers - psychology
Oregon
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Sampling Studies
Siblings - psychology
Social Environment
Socioeconomic Factors

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