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 = 16.6, S.D. = 1.19) and again during young adulthood (mean = 24.5, S.D. = 0.51). Diagnostic interviews were also conducted with the mothers and fathers of the target individual. RESULTS. After controlling for relevant demographic characteristics, parental co-morbid psychopathology, and offspring psychopathology, maternal depression was associated with higher levels of physical symptoms (beta = 0.14, S.E. = 0.07) during adolescence, and higher levels of minor stressors (beta = 2.52, S.E. = 1.07) and a greater risk for using mental health services (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.14-3.03) in young adulthood. Paternal depression was associated with offspring experiencing more major stressors (beta = 0.27, S.E. = 0.07), having lower perceived social competence (beta = -0.17, S.E. = 0.08), and being more likely to attempt suicide (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.19-5.92) during adolescence, as well as lower perceived social competence (beta = -1.21, S.E. = 0.49) in young adulthood.Conclusions. Offspring of depressed parents demonstrate impairment in a variety of domains, even after controlling for the effects of their own psychopathology. Further research on the mechanisms that lead to these impairments, as well as the role of these impairments in the subsequent development of psychopathology, is warranted.     

Psychopathology in the adolescent offspring of bipolar parents

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and 14-months incidence of psychopathology in adolescent offspring of a bipolar parent. METHOD: Parent, teacher and self-report rating scales and Kiddie-SADS were used to assess 132 13-23-year-old offspring of bipolar parents. RESULTS: Compared to the general population, there were few differences between rating scale scores for bipolar offspring and problem scores for normative adolescents. Of the sample 49% had a lifetime psychiatric disorder, most commonly (33%) a mood disorder. LIMITATIONS: There was no suitable control group and there are no comparison data for psychiatric diagnoses (DSM-IV), based on semi-structured interviews in the adolescent age group in the Netherlands. CONCLUSIONS: The overall level of psychopathology of bipolar offspring was not particularly elevated, but when there were more problems, they tended to be mood disorders.     

Adolescent offspring of endogenous unipolar depressive parents and of normal parents.

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.     

Cerebrum malformation in offspring of diabetic mothers

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of maternal diabetes on fetal brain structure especially in cerebrum. Sixteen adult female rats were divided in two groups. Diabetes was induced in one group by alloxan agent. Both groups became pregnant by natural matting. At 7, 14, 21, and 28?days after birth, the cerebrum was collected from offspring of all rats and the weight of neonates was measured. Various histological parameters were determined using histological techniques. Results revealed a significant decrease in number of cells in gray matter and white matter in all days after birth and a significant decrease in thickness of gray matter at 7 and 14?days postneonatal in cerebrum of offspring of diabetic mothers (ODM) as compared with control group. The body weight of ODM was significantly more than that of control (p< 0.05). Maternal hyperglycemia exhibited deleterious effects on brain specially cerebrum during fetal life, which remained persistent during postneonatal period.     

The offspring of schizophrenic parents in a North Swedish isolate

This work concerns the children of schizophrenic parents born and resident in a North Swedish isolate during 1829–1960. The sample consists of 39 children whose parents were both schizophrenic and 514 children who had one schizophrenic parent. Controls were 624 children of unaffected parents of the same population and time period. Previous observations concerning lack of association between fecundity and schizophrenic psychoses were confirmed. The marriage rate for schizophrenics had decreased, probably because of earlier diagnosis and earlier hospitalization. These changes most likely depend on the integration of the isolate into the welfare state - a considerable change as compared to conditions prevailing 30 or more years ago. The late fetal death ratio and the infant mortality rate were significantly increased for the offspring of schizophrenic parents. The occurrence of schizophrenic pyychoses and mental deficiency was significantly higher among children of schizophrenics. No association was found between the sex of the schizophrenic parent and the sex of their offspring, the incidence of stillbirths, the infant mortality rate, and the. incidence of schizophrenia or mental deficiency.     

Age-related glucose metabolism alterations in nondiabetic and potentially diabetic women

The incidence of pathological glucose tolerance was investigated in women of three age groups: 20–39, 40–59 and over 60 yr, by means of oral glucose tolerance tests and the Danowski Index. The incidence was found to be significantly higher in older women: thus an age-related deterioration of glucose metabolism was confirmed.The women in each age group were further divided into “healthy” nondiabetic and “potentially diabetic” women. The parameter of “potential diabetes” was found to be associated to a greater extent with age-related glucose tolerance deterioration than advancing age alone.The existing theories for the etiology of carbohydrate metabolism alteration in older women are reviewed.It is suggested that in view of the age-related deterioration of glucose metabolism, a new normal range of glucose tolerance should be established in an ageing population.     

Subgenual cingulate volumes in affected and unaffected offspring of bipolar parents

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorders (BD) have a strong genetic underpinning, yet no biological vulnerability markers for BD have been identified. Decreased volumes of subgenual cingulate (SGC) were replicated in familial bipolar patients. Presence of abnormality in unaffected subjects at genetic risk for an illness needs to be established before SGC volumes can be used as an endophenotype. This is the first study of SGC volumes in affected and unaffected subjects at familial risk for mood disorders. METHOD: High-risk participants were recruited from families multiply affected with BD. The high-risk sample included 13 affected and 13 unaffected offspring of bipolar I parents, who were matched by age and sex with 31 controls without a personal or family history of psychiatric disorders. The expanded sample consisted of 24 unaffected, 19 affected subjects all with a first or second degree relative suffering from BD I or II. The age range for all subjects was 15-30 years. Subgenual cingulate volumes were measured on 1.5 T 3D anatomical MRI images using standard methods. RESULTS: We found comparable SGC volumes among unaffected, affected offspring of BD I parents and controls. Likewise no SGC abnormalities were found in the expanded sample of subjects with BD I or II relatives. Left SGC volumes in all groups were smaller than right SGC volumes without laterality by group interaction. The exclusion of 5 medicated subjects did not change the results. LIMITATIONS: Cross sectional design, inclusion of both bipolar I and bipolar II probands. CONCLUSIONS: Subgenual cingulate volume abnormalities were absent in unaffected or affected relatives of bipolar patients and thus did not meet criteria for endophenotype.     

Cardiovascular reactivity to stress in black male offspring of hypertensive parents

The forearm blood flow (FABF) and other cardiovascular responses of 20 black men with a parental history of hypertension were compared with the responses of 18 black men without a parental history of hypertension. The results showed that sons of hypertensive parents had higher systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure than sons of normotensive parents during the initial assessment as well as significantly higher self-determined home SBP. Sons of hypertensive parents had higher SBP responses than sons of normotensive parents during mental challenge and the cold pressor, but there were no group differences in DBP, heart rate (HR), (FABF), or forearm vascular resistance (FAVR) responses to the stressors. Significant positive correlations between HR and FABF responses to the stressors were observed for sons of hypertensive parents. Finally, the results showed that the BP and FAVR responses to the cold pressor (a painful task that elicits alpha-adrenergic activity) were significantly higher than responses to mental challenge (a task that elicits beta-adrenergic activity) for both groups. The implications of these results are discussed in light of current research suggesting that blacks may have a greater tendency toward BP responses mediated by alpha-adrenergic increases in vascular resistance.     

Incidence of cleft lip and palate in the offspring of cleft parents

The results of this study support the idea that CL(P) is a polygenic trait. Furthermore, employing the calculations of Edwards, there was little evidence for major gene effects. The sex-modified threshold concept which has been made an integral part of the CL(P) polygenic model was not entirely confirmed by these data.
These data show an affected offspring risk for CP parents of both sexes of about 6 %. Although Edward's calculations failed to provide evidence for major gene effects in CP, there was an unexplained five-fold difference between CP frequency in offspring and sibs which needs further study.     

Increased glutamate receptor gene expression in the cerebral cortex of insulin induced hypoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Hypoglycemia causes brain fuel deprivation, resulting in functional brain failure and brain death. It is a serious complication of insulin therapy in diabetic patients. A single intrafemoral dose of streptozotocin was administered to induce diabetes. Hypoglycemia was induced by appropriate doses of insulin s.c. in control and diabetic rats. Glutamate content and glutamate receptor kinetics were studied using [3H]glutamate. [3H]MK 801 was used to study the NMDA receptor kinetics. NMDA2B and metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 5 subunits receptor gene expressions were done using real time PCR. There was a significant (P<0.001) increase in the glutamate content in the cerebral cortex of hypoglycemic and diabetic rats when compared with control with more glutamate content in the hypoglycemic group. Scatchard analysis using [3H]glutamate and [3H]MK 801 in the cerebral cortex showed a significant (P<0.001) increase in the maximal binding (Bmax) in both hypoglycemic and diabetic rats when compared with control with no significant change in equilibrium dissociation constant. The glutamate and NMDA receptor binding parameters were significantly (P<0.001) enhanced in the hypoglycemic rats compared with hyperglycemic rats. Real time PCR analysis also showed a significant increase (P<0.001) in the gene expression of NMDA2B and mGluR5 subunits of glutamate receptor. This increased gene expression of NMDA2B and mGluR5 glutamate receptor subunits confirmed the enhanced mRNA of receptor subunits and subsequently at the protein level from the receptor kinetic studies. The enhanced glutamate receptors were more prominent in hypoglycemic group which is of significance in this study. Up-regulation of glutamate leads to Ca2+ overload in cells, potentially leading to cell damage and death. This functional damage during hypoglycemia is suggested to contribute to cognitive and memory deficits which has immense clinical relevance in the therapeutic management of diabetes.     

Neuropsychological study of IQ scores in offspring of parents with bipolar I disorder

Introduction: Studies comparing IQ in Offspring of Bipolar Parents (OBP) with Offspring of Healthy Controls (OHC) have reported conflicting findings. They have included OBP with mental health/neurodevelopmental disorders and/or pharmacological treatment which could affect results. This UK study aimed to assess IQ in OBP with no mental health/neurodevelopmental disorder and assess the relationship of sociodemographic variables with IQ.

Methods: IQ data using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) from 24 OBP and 34 OHC from the North East of England was analysed using mixed-effects modelling.

Results: All participants had IQ in the average range. OBP differed statistically significantly from OHC on Full Scale IQ (p?=?.001), Performance IQ (PIQ) (p?=?.003) and Verbal IQ (VIQ) (p?=?.001) but not on the PIQ-VIQ split. OBP and OHC groups did not differ on socio-economic status (SES) and gender. SES made a statistically significant contribution to the variance of IQ scores (p?=?.001).

Conclusions: Using a robust statistical model of analysis, the OBP with no current/past history of mental health/neurodevelopmental disorders had lower IQ scores compared to OHC. This finding should be borne in mind when assessing and recommending interventions for OBP.     

Behavioral and emotional disturbances in the offspring of depressed parents with anger attacks

BACKGROUND: To examine the emotional and behavioral characteristics of the offspring of depressed parents with and without anger attacks. METHODS: Forty-three parents who met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) completed the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist - Parent Report Version (CBCL) for each of their birth children (n = 58, age range 6-17 years). Unpaired t tests were used to evaluate the CBCL scale score differences between children of parents with and children of parents without anger attacks. Baseline demographics and clinical differences between the two groups of parents were also evaluated. RESULTS: Parents with anger attacks had a significantly younger age of onset of MDD. Offspring of depressed parents with anger attacks were found to have significantly lower social and school competency scale scores and higher scores for delinquency, attention problems, and aggressive behavior. In addition, this group was found to have a significantly higher total T score (a global measure of psychopathology). CONCLUSIONS: There are some important differences between offspring of depressed parents with and without anger attacks. This finding may be important in identifying and formulating intervention strategies for childhood problems in the offspring of depressed parents.     

Ovarian histomorphometric changes in adult offspring of diabetic rat mothers

In pregnant mothers, maternal diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, which leads to increase blood glucose concentration in the mother and consequently in the foetus, causing various neonatal problems. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of maternal diabetes on foetal ovarian structure. Sixteen adult female rats were allocated in two equal groups. Diabetes was induced in one group by alloxan. Both groups became pregnant by natural matting. Ninety days after birth, the female offspring were terminated, the body weight and blood glucose of the animals measured and their ovaries removed. Various histological parameters were determined using histological techniques. Results revealed a significant increase in body weight and blood glucose in the offspring of diabetic mothers (ODM) compared to that of controls. The weight, volume and diameter of the ovary and ovarian capsule thickness were decreased in the ODM group. The number and diameter of primary, preantral, antral and preovulatory follicles and corpora lutea were decreased in ovaries in the ODM. Maternal hyperglycaemia exhibited deleterious effects on the reproductive system of their offspring