Behavioral inhibition study of offspring of depressed and anxious adults

Inhibited temperament has been reported as relatively frequent in offspring of depressed and anxious adults. Moreover, respiratory function and other biological systems are implicated in anxiety disorders. Therefore, the hypothesis is advanced of a relationship between inhibited temperament and biological function in offspring of parents with anxiety or depression. Subjects consist of 3-5 year-old offspring of adults with Major Depression, Panic Disorder or Social Phobia, and normals. Childrenʹs behavior in standardized, established laboratory procedures is rated for behavioral inhibition without knowledge of parental diagnosis. Biological measures include heart rate and variability, respiratory rate and tidal volume, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol. Of a total projected sample of 30, 23 have participated. Data from the first 13 has been analyzed. Three were uninhibited (one offspring of a control parent, two of depressed parents). Two children were inhibited (offspring of one panic disorder and one social phobia parent). As predicted, uninhibited children have lower respiration (baseline and sustained) than inhibited and “neutral” children. Of the 13 children, the only one with consistently elevated heart rate and decreased variability is inhibited. The results are encouraging of support for a relationship between biological function, temperament and parental psychopathology. The complete sample will be available for presentation.