Your Siblings May Make You Depressed

Robert W. Griffith, MD

What are the risk factors for depression? Being a woman, for one. Other factors include a family history of the disorder, pregnancy or stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one or a job, and chronic conditions such as diabetes or coronary artery disease. A new report published in the American Journal of Psychiatry describes a new risk, at least for men.

Boston researchers followed the psychosocial development of 229 men from ages 20 through 50 and beyond. The men completed questionnaires every two years from the age of 18 onwards; their parents were also interviewed. Based on their interviews and the answers to the questionnaires, experts rated the men's relationships with siblings in childhood and during adolescence. Poor relationships with siblings before the age of 20 predicted the occurrence of major depression in alter life. This was independent of another risk factor - a family history of depression. As many as 26% of the men who had poor or destructive sibling relationships had episodes of major depression as adults.

Poor relationships with parents did not predict later depression. And neither of the two risk factors found (sibling relationships and family history) predicted subsequent alcohol abuse or dependence.

Note that this study was done in white males; who knows what women might show in a similar study? Using a similar prospective design, this will rake another 20+ years to find out. In the meantime, tell you kids to be kind to their brother (or sister).

Source
HealthandAge Blog