A Comparative Study of Temperament in Children of Patients Suffering from Depression in Comparison to Normal Controls.

ABSTRACT

Temperament is a very important aspect of functioning that needs to be understood in children of patients suffering from depression. It may be an early sign of vulnerability to the later development of depression. Early detection and early intervention in children of patients with depression are in premature state in India. The present study aimed to study the temperament characteristics in children of patients suffering from depression as compared to age and sex matched control sample. A case control study was conducted on children aged 4-16 years of patients with depression who presented to indoor and outdoor services of department of psychiatry in Lady Hardinge Medical College evaluating them on Temperament Measurement Schedule and comparing the outcome with children of healthy parents matched for age, sex, education, and socioeconomic status with the children of patients suffering from depression were found to show significantly lower threshold of responsiveness, lower approach withdrawal; they were low on sociability, low on mood, low on emotionality and lower activity ,intensity, energy and distractibility as compared to control. These children had lower mean score on the variable- Adaptability, Persistence and Rhythmicity although the difference was not found to be statistically significant.