Children of Depressed Parents: Risk, Identification, and Intervention

Abstract

This is a timely book that would be of interest to all those who treat children or parents. Renewed psychiatric research in depression and the rising suicide rate among adolescents highlight the importance of this topic. To quote the preface, "reported research currently notes that prospective studies on children, whose parents have unipolar and/or bipolar affective disorders display a prevalence of depression ranging from 7 to 85%." The aim of this book is to "present current theoretical, clinical, research, and treatment issues that promote an understanding of the effects of parental depression on the developing child." The editor, a child psychiatrist involved in active treatment of children, has assembled some of the leading authors in research on this subject. This 296-page book provides a broad range of subject matter, varying from research data and clinical observations to theoretical discussions. The main theme of the book is that "affective disorders in