Epidemiology refers to the study of the distribution and determinants of health related events in specific populations and its applications to health problems. Genetic features account for up to 40 percent of the spread of main depressive disorders from parent to the offspring. Children are found to be highly vulnerable to parental depression. 61 percent of children of parents with depression or psychiatric disorder have depressive symptoms (Johnson, 63).
Descriptive epidemiology makes use of available data to examine how rates vary according to demographic variables like population density (Szklo and Nieto, 3). Disability can increase the risk for depressive symptoms. This is usually associated with loss of independence and restricted social and leisure activities. Many chronic medical illnesses are related to depression including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Older adults who were depressed were 67% more likely to experience impairment in activities of daily living and 73% more likely to experience mobility restrictions (Blazer and Steffens, 277). Stressful events faced by HIV-infected individuals may go beyond social isolation and anxiety resulting in depressed effects (Johnson, 244).
Analytical epidemiology focuses on study designs that allow the assessment of hypotheses of associations of suspected risk factor exposures with health outcomes (Szklo and Nieto, 3). Data suggests that adolescents whose mothers were anxious during pregnancy have an increased liability to depression. Studies have shown that parental depression reduces the affection and raises the lack of enthusiasm of parents’ associations with their siblings (Reiss, 1). Genes can be the determining factor in these depression problems in matters of quality parenting and sibling’s depressive disorders.
Marital longevity seemed to be a moderator of the effect of parental depression on children. Children with depressed parents or parents in a longer marriage had less depression cases (Johnson, 61). Gender differences are reported to have an impact of depression on initiation and longevity of marital status. Research indicated that depression in women increased the likelihood of marriage while depression in men decreased the likelihood of marriage. Children of depressed mothers had more behavioral problems compared to children of a depressed father (Johnson, 63).
About 20 percent of women experience some depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and about 10 percent of women develop major depression. Complications arise in treatment of depression for women who have conceived or want to conceive (Kahn et al. 2). Antidepressant drugs are prescribed to patients according to the frequency of depressive episodes, history of drug use, family history and onset of the disease. Support from family members and friends can contribute to less depressive episodes in patients.
A National Hospital Discharge Survey (2006) by CDC (Center for Disease Control) reported that there were 459,000 discharges with major depressive disorder in 2006. Antidepressants of patients, who are parents, must include assessment of the marriage and the children. This will increase the child’s understanding of the parent’s mental condition and enhance the parent-child dialogue about depression (Kahn et al. 1). Reiss (1) states that the fundamental understanding of prevention and treatment of depression factors continually unfold as children grow into adulthood.
Works Cited
Blazer, Dan and David, Steffens. The American Psychiatric Textbook of geriatric Psychiatry. Arlington, Virginia: American Psychiatric Publishing. 2009. Web.
Khan, Moline et al. Major depression during Conception and Pregnancy. New York: Expert Consensus Guideline Series.2001.
Reiss, David. Transmission and Treatment of Depression. New Haven, Connecticut: American Psychiatric Association. 2008.
Szklo, Moyes and Javier, Nieto. Epidemiology: beyond the basics. 2nd ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 2004.
Johnson, Sheri L. Stress, coping, and depression. New York: Routledge, 2000. Web.