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Annals of General Psychiatry
Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Primary research

Major depressive disorder in a Kenyan youth sample: relationship with parenting behavior and parental psychiatric disorders

Authors: Lincoln I Khasakhala, David Musyimi Ndetei, Muthoni Mathai, Valerie Harder

Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Studies on mental health problems during childhood and youth development phases have reported that families of children diagnosed with a depressive disorder tend to be dysfunctional. These dysfunctions have been shown to be mediating factors for children to develop psychiatric disorders in the future.

Objective

This study was designed to investigate whether perceived parenting behavior and parental psychiatric disorders have any relationship with youth presenting with major depressive disorder.

Methodology

The study sample had a total number of 250 purposely selected youth attending the Youth Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

Results

This study found associations between major depressive disorders (MDD) in the youth and co-morbid psychiatric disorders among the youth: conduct disorder (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.04 to 8.26, p = 0.035), any anxiety disorder (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.20 to 4.87, p = 0.012), drug abuse (OR = 3.40, 95% CI 2.01 to 5.76, p < 0.001), alcohol use (OR = 3.29, 95% CI 1.94 to 5.57, p < 0.001), and suicidal behavior (OR = 5.27, 95% CI 2.39 to 11.66, p < 0.001). The results also indicate that a higher proportion of youth between 16 and 18 years had major depressive disorder than the youth below 16 years or above 18 years of age (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.40 to 5.05, p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis shows that both rejecting maternal behavior (AOR = 2.165, 95% CI 1.060 to 4.422, p = 0.003) and maternal MDD (AOR = 5.27, 95% CI 1.10 to 14.76, p < 0.001) are associated with MDD in youth.

Conclusion

Negative maternal parenting behavior and maternal depressive disorder are associated with major depressive disorder in children.
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Metadata
Title
Major depressive disorder in a Kenyan youth sample: relationship with parenting behavior and parental psychiatric disorders
Authors
Lincoln I Khasakhala
David Musyimi Ndetei
Muthoni Mathai
Valerie Harder
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Annals of General Psychiatry / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1744-859X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-859X-12-15

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