RT Journal
A1 Conron KJ, Beardslee W, Koenen KC, Buka SL, Gortmaker SL
T1 A longitudinal study of maternal depression and child maltreatment in a national sample of families investigated by child protective services
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2009
FD October 5
VO 163
IS 10
SP 922
OP 930
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.176
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.176
AB Objective 
    To assess whether a change in depression predicts a mother's change in maltreatment.Design 
    Observational, repeated measures study.Setting 
    National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being, 1999 to 2004.Participants 
    Mothers who retained custody of a child aged 0 to 15 years following a maltreatment investigation and completed at least 2 of 3 surveys (n = 2386).Main Exposure 
    Change in depression status between baseline and 18- and 36-month follow-ups, assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form.Main Outcome Measures 
    Change in psychological aggression, physical assault, and neglect between baseline and 18- and 36-month follow-ups, assessed with the Conflict Tactics Scale Parent-Child version.Results 
    One-third (35.5%) of mothers experienced onset or remission of depression. Onset of depression was associated with an increase of 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-4.4) psychologically aggressive acts in an average 12-month period, but was not statistically significantly associated with change in physical assault or neglect.Conclusion 
    Depression is positively associated with maternal perpetration of psychological aggression in high-risk families.