Project Summary

John R.Z. Abela, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of McGill University, using a high-risk sample, proposes to identify the vulnerability factors that place young adolescents at risk for developing depressive disorders.  Adolescents entering seventh or eighth grade who have a parent with a history of Major Depressive Disorder will be assessed for vulnerability factors for depression including pessimistic styles of thinking, dysfunctional attitudes, predispositions to self-criticism and dependency, low self complexity, the tendency to ruminate in response to depressed mood and seeking excessive reassurances from others.  Adolescents and their parents will be interviewed to assess the adolescent's history of depressive disorders.  Two years later, adolescents and their parents will be re-assessed to determine if the adolescent has experienced clinically significant depressive symptoms.  Dr. Abela will also examine whether gender differences in vulnerability factors account for the emergence of gender differences in depression during the two-year follow up.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)\Child/Adolescent

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