Evidence of familial association between attention deficit hyperactive disorder and major depressive disorder in probands ADHD [September 2003 - march 2004]

Comorbidity between ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] and major depression has been reported from both epidemiologic and clinical studies of both children and adults. With the use of family study methods, we tested hypotheses about patterns of familial association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and depressive disorder among first-degree relatives of clinically referred children and adolescents with ADHD. In this case - control study, were 208 probands with ADHD [aged 5-17 yrs] were diagnosed by clinical interview and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime version [K-SADS-PL], and they were assessed for major depression with interview and K- SADS. 779 first degree relatives [416 parents, 363 siblings] were assessed with interview and K- SADS [for under 18 yrs] and SADS [for age up to 18 yrs] and Wender [for age up to 18 yrs] for major depression and ADHD. Familial risk for ADHD was similar in the relatives of the ADHD probands. The risk for major depression disorder was three times higher in relatives of probands who had ADHD with depressive disorder than in those of the ADHD probands without depressive disorder. There was a tendency for ADHD probands' relatives who themselves had ADHD to have a higher risk for depressive disorder than ADHD probands' relatives who did not have ADHD [cosegregation]. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that ADHD and major depression disorder cosegregate within families

Psychological and obstetric risk factors for postnatal depression

Postnatal depression is a key concept for mother-infant mental health. Identifying risk factors of postnatal depression and developing screening system are needed. The propose of this study was to determine Psychological and obstetric risk factors for postnatal depression. 288 consecutive admitted women at 6-8 weeks after childbirth on maternity ward in Ghaem hospital, Mashad, Iran were assessed by two psychiatrics. Interview data included presence obstetric history, economic and demographic characteristics, Personality, psychiatric history and life-events information that were obtained from a questionnaire, psychological status was assessed by using the GHQ. The prevalence of distress was ascertained by the 28- item Goldberg Health Questionnaire [GHQ], using a cut-off score of> 24. 57.6% of mothers had GHQ-above 24 scores which categorized them as having significant emotional distress several psychological and obstetric risk factors for the development of predisposing psychological distress at 8 weeks postpartum were reported including: Economical situation, marital relationships, and the gender of the infant, multiparous women, caesarean section deliveries, and unplanned pregnancy. The results emphasize the importance of cumulative psychosocial and obstetric risk factors for postnatal depression. Early identification of potential risk for postnatal depression should include assessment of sociodemography, personality, psychiatric history and recent life events, as well as past and present obstetric factors