Increased prevalence of alcoholism in relatives of depressed and bipolar children

Objective: Previous publications from the ''Nortriptyline in Childhood Depression: Follow-up Study'' reported increased prevalence rates of mood disorders and alcoholism in the relatives of prepubertal depressed subjects. This article presents data on the association versus independent transmission of alcohol and mood disorders in the families of these subjects. Method: The follow-up study included 6- to 12-year-olds with major depressive disorder (MDD) and matched normal controls. After 2 to 5 years of follow-up, bipolarity developed in 31.7% or the MDD subjects. Family history data for the first- and second-degree relatives and first cousins of the 76 nonadopted MDD subjects and the 31 controls were obtained from the subjects' mothers, using the Family History-Research Diagnostic Criteria. Results: The prevalence of alcoholism among the relatives of the MDD and bipolar probands was two to three times that reported for control relatives and twice that reported for the relatives of adult MDD and bipolar probands. Mood disorders and maternal alcoholism were independently transmitted while paternal alcoholism increased the risk for mood disorder in offspring. Conclusions: The potential psychosocial and genetic effects of familiar alcoholism need to be considered for the clinical management and investigation of childhood-onset mood disorders.