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Do better executive functions buffer the effect of current parental depression on adolescent depressive symptoms?

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posted on 2023-06-09, 01:34 authored by Shiri Davidovich, Stephan Collishaw, Ajay K Thapar, Gordon Harold, Anita Thapar, Frances Rice
Background Offspring of parents with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and especially those exposed to a current episode of parental depression have been found to be at increased risk for developing depression themselves. Exposure to a current parental depressive episode also reduces the efficacy of interventions in high risk or depressed adolescents. This highlights the need to identify protective factors for adolescents exposed to a current parental depressive episode. Executive functions serve as an important cognitive resource, involved in the ability to regulate mood and thoughts and cope with stressful events. This study examined the buffering role of two components of executive functioning, inhibitory control and mental flexibility, in the association between a current parental episode of MDD and adolescent depressive symptoms. Methods A high-risk sample of 288 adolescent offspring of parents with recurrent major depressive disorder completed an Affective Go/No Go and a Verbal Fluency task. Parents and adolescents underwent psychiatric interviews. Results In the presence of a current parental depressive episode in the parent, adolescents with better inhibitory control and mental flexibility had fewer depressive symptoms after controlling for age, gender and IQ. Limitations Participants were the offspring of depressed parents and it is not clear whether the protective effects of executive functioning observed here would generalise to other populations. Conclusions Executive functions may protect against adolescent depression in the presence of a parental depressive episode. It may be beneficial to target executive functions in preventive programs for individuals at high-risk for depression.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Affective Disorders

ISSN

0165-0327

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

199

Page range

54-64

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-06-07

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-06-07

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-06-07

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