PEDIATRICS Vol. 87 No. 5 May 1991, pp. 740-741
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Family History: A Special Opportunity for Psychosocial Intervention

BARRY ZUCKERMAN MD1

1 Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston City Hospital, Boston University School of Medicine

Family history traditionally has been important in the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders. Recently, due to the development of potential interventions, the role of family history has expanded to identify potential risk factors for myocardial infarction or the presence of certain genetically determined birth defects. I would like to suggest that routine family history be expanded to highlight two common mental health problems that affect children: major depression and alcoholism. Major depression occurs in 3% of adult men and 4% to 9% of adult women.1 Alcoholism occurs in 1 of 8 adults in the United States,2 and 1 of 6 children has an alcoholic parent.3 Identification of these problems in parents and grandparents provides a special opportunity for intervention by pediatricians during health care supervision visits or when examining children with behavioral or developmental problems.

The presence of either disorder in one or both parents is a good predictor of future psychiatric disorder in the child. Although some specificity of transmission has been shown, children may develop other problems.4 Two possible mechanisms may account for the transmission of either of these problems. The first is genetic transmission.

Submitted on October 3, 1990
Accepted on December 12, 1990


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