Abstract
Child guidance clinic cases were reviewed for abuse history, diagnosis, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. Many depressed abused children were found to have been previously diagnosed exclusively with conduct-related versus affect disorders. The results suggested that abused children are at specific risk of developing depression and suicidality and that a subgroup of those with early-onset depression may have acquired the disorder concurrent with parental abuse.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Garbarino J: The human ecology of child maltreatment: A conceptual model for research.J Mar and Fam 39: 721–735, 1977.
Trad P:Infant and Childhood Depression. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1987.
Wolfe D: Child-abusive parents: An empirical review and analysis.Psych Bull 97: 462–482, 1985.
Bible, C, French, A: Depression in the child abuse syndrome. InDepression in children and adolescents. eds. French, P, Berlin, I. New York: Human Sciences Press, 1979.
Blumberg M: Depression in abused and neglected children.Am J Psychother 35: 342–355, 1981.
Kazdin A, Moser J, Colbus D, Bell R: Depressive symptoms among physically abused and psychiatrically disturbed children.J Abnorm Psych 94: 298–307, 1985.
Deykin E, Alpert J, McNamera, J: A pilot study of the effect of exposure to child abuse or neglect on adolescent suicidal behavior.Am J Psychiat 142: 1299–1303, 1985.
Green A: Self-destructive behavior in battered children.Am J Psychiat 135: 579–582, 1978.
Kosky R: Childhood suicidal behavior.J Child Psych and Psychiat 24: 457–468, 1983.
Monane M, Leitcher D, Lewis D: Physical abuse in psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents.J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiat 23: 653–658, 1984.
Lynch M, Roberts J:Consequences of child abuse. New York: Academic Press, 1982.
Martin H, Beezley P: Behavior observations of abused children.Developm Med and Child Neurol 19: 373–387, 1977.
Oates R, Forrest D, Peacock A: Self-esteem of abused children.Child Abuse and Neglect 9: 159–163, 1985.
Carmen E, Rieder P, Mills T: Victims of violence and psychiatric illness.Am J Psychiat 141: 378–383, 1984.
Holmes S, Robins L: The influence of childhood disciplinary experience on the development of alcoholism and depression.J Child Psych and Psychiat 28: 399–415, 1987.
Steele B: Notes on the lasting effects of early child abuse throughout the life cycle.Child Abuse and Neglect 10: 283–291, 1986.
Reinherz H, Stewart-Berghauer G, Pakiz B, Frost A, Moeykens B, Holmes W: The relationship of early risk and current mediators to depressive symptomatology in adolescence.J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiat 28: 942–947, 1989.
Milling L, Campbell N, Davenport C, Carpenter G: Suicidal behavior among psychiatric inpatient children: An estimate of prevalence.Child Psychiat Hum Develpm 21: 71–77, 1991.
Kaufman, J: Depressive disorders in maltreated children.J Am Acad of Child Adol Psychiat 30: 257–265, 1991.
Cohn A, Daro D: Is treatment too late? What ten years of evaluative research tells us.Child Abuse and Neglect 11: 433–442, 1987.
Elliot D, Tarnowski K: Depressive characteristics of sexually abused children.Child Psychiat Hum Develpm 20: 37–48, 1990.
United States Monthly Vital Statistics: Volume 31, 1982.
Melton G, Petrila J, Poythress N, Slobogin C:Psychological evaluations for the courts. New York: Guilford, 1987.
Puig-Antich, J, Goetz, D, Davies, M, et al: A controlled family history study of prepubertal major depressive disorder.Arch Gen Psychiat 46: 406–418, 1989.
Spinetta, J, Rigler, D: The child abusing parent: A psychological review.Psych Bull 77: 296–304, 1972.
McCracken J: Etiologic aspects of child and adolescent mood disorders.Child Adol Psychiat Clin of N Am 1:89–110, 1992.
Abramson L, Seligman M, Teadale J: Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation.J Abnorm Psych 87: 49–74, 1978.
Seligman M: Depression and learned helplessness. InThe psychology of depression: Contemporary theory and research, eds. R. Friedman & M. Katz. Washington DC: Winston, 1974.
Brassard M, Germain R, Hart S:Psychological maltreatment of children and youth. New York: Pergamon Press, 1987.
Rutter M, Izard C, Reed P:Depression in young people. New York: Guilford Press, 1986.
Kempe C, Helfer R:The battered child. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1972.
Beck A:Depression. New York: Basic Books, 1967.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Preparation of this article was supported in part by the Robert Ellis Simon Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stone, N. Parental abuse as a precursor to childhood onset depression and suicidality. Child Psych Hum Dev 24, 13–24 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02353714
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02353714