Children of Depressed Mothers From Early Childhood to Maturity [Hardcover]

A developmental perspective on the psychopathology of offspring of depressed mothers.How is parental psychopathology transmitted to offspring? Children of depressed mothers are followed from toddlerhood to late adolescence. Detailed observations and interviews identify patterns of mother's behavior, family functioning , and child properties which, in combination, set in motion diverse risk processes for specific offspring problems. Developmental course differs in unipolar and bipolar groups. Early mother-child relationships, and specific affective-temperament qualities of mother and child are strongly influential. Longitudinal data identify the diverse patterns of connectedness from child to adult.How is parental psychopathology transmitted to offspring? Children of depressed mothers are followed from toddlerhood to late adolescence. Detailed observations and interviews identify patterns of mother's behavior, family functioning , and child properties which, in combination, set in motion diverse risk processes for specific offspring problems. Developmental course differs in unipolar and bipolar groups. Early mother-child relationships, and specific affective-temperament qualities of mother and child are strongly influential. Longitudinal data identify the diverse patterns of connectedness from child to adult.This book presents a developmental perspective on the psychopathology of offspring of depressed mothers. A primary theme of this study is the interplay of factors in child (developmental stage, gender, temperament) and environment (depressed mother's symptomatic behavior and family functioning) as a key to psychiatric and psychosocial problems in children. This enlightening study closely follows children and their families through every stage of childhood. This book demonstrates just how influential a depressed mother is to the development of her child.1. Orientation and themes; 2. An overview of objectives and approach; 3. Questions and answers in the LiteraturelÃ)