Anxiety Disorders Run in Families

A study in the January 2001 American Journal of Psychiatry supports previous findings that children of parents with panic disorder and depression are at risk of developing these disorders themselves. The researchers, however, were also able to show that specific disorders may cause specific risks. The results may lead to early prevention and treatment of disorders that often become chronic and treatment-resistant when treatment is delayed.

Although there have already been numerous studies on the risks of children inheriting anxiety disorders or depression from their parents, the researchers felt that important questions had yet to be answered. Previous studies have shown that children are at risk, but they have not shown whether there may be a family predisposition for all anxiety disorders or whether specific anxiety disorders in parents may be associated with specific risks in their children. Additionally, the researchers wanted to learn how risk was related to a combined diagnosis of anxiety disorders and depression in parents, as these two conditions frequently occur together.

Participants in the study consisted of four groups of children:

1. those whose parents had both panic disorder and depression;
2. those whose parents had panic disorder without depression;
3. those whose parents had depression without panic disorder; and
4. those whose parents had neither disorder.

To conduct the study, researchers used different kinds of interviews, depending on the age of the child, including interviews with mothers.

The results of the study show definite risks for children whose parents have panic disorder, depression or both, and these risks vary depending on the parent's diagnosis:

1. Children whose parents have panic disorder (with or without depression) have an increased risk for panic disorder and agoraphobia.
2. Children whose parents have depression (with or without panic disorder) have an increased risk for social anxiety disorder, depression, disruptive behavior disorders, and poorer social functioning.
3. Children whose parents have either panic disorder or depression or both have an increased risk for separation anxiety disorder as well as multiple anxiety disorders.

The researchers did not conduct this study to frighten parents with anxiety disorders and/or depression. Further understanding of family predisposition will help researchers and treatment professionals develop methods to prevent these disorders in children before they start or to treat them quickly before the disorders become chronic and treatment-resistant. Delayed treatment often means more difficult treatment. The study is good news in the development of early detection and prevention.

Reference: Biederman J, Faraone SV, Hirshfield-Becker DR, Friedman D, Robin JA, Rosenbaum JF (2001), Patterns of psychopathology and dysfunction in high-risk children of parents with panic disorder and major depression. Am J Psychiatry 158(1): 49-57.