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The Clinical Characteristics of Major Depression as Indices of the Familial Risk to Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Kenneth S. Kendler ,
Michael C. Neale ,
Ronald C. Kessler ,
Andrew C. Heath  and
Lindon J. Eaves
Kenneth S. Kendler*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Michael C. Neale
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Ronald C. Kessler
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, and Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
Andrew C. Heath
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia
Lindon J. Eaves
Affiliation:
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
*
Dr K. S. Kendler, Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Extract

Background

From both a clinical and an aetiological perspective, major depression (MD) is probably a heterogeneous condition. We attempt to relate these two domains.

Method

We examined which of an extensive series of clinical characteristics in 646 female twins from a population-based register with a lifetime diagnosis of MD predicts the risk for MD in co-twins. MD was defined by DSM–III–R criteria.

Results

Four variables uniquely predicted an increased risk for MD in the co-twin: number of episodes, degree of impairment and co-morbidity with panic disorder or bulimia. One variable uniquely predicted decreased risk: co-morbidity with phobia. Variables that did not uniquely predict risk of MD in the co-twin included age at onset, number and kind of depressive symptoms, treatment seeking, duration of the longest episode and co-morbidity with generalised anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the clinical features of MD can be meaningfully related to the familial vulnerability to illness, particularly with respect to recurrence, impairment and patterns of co-morbidity.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 165 , Issue 1 , July 1994 , pp. 66 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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