Mothers' depression and children's problems

Mothers' depression can also put their children at risk of developing mental-health problems. Researchers from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health studied 80 women with depression and their children who were aged between seven and 17. The mothers were taking part in a study designed to help patients whose first few attempts at treatments by doctors had failed. The children of women who got better earlier showed improved mental health and got on better at home and school. Those whose mothers did not get better over the two years of the study showed no improvement in mental health and more instances of bad behaviour. The study is important as it shows that even where mothers have been ill for a while their children's mental health improves as soon as they (the mothers) start to get better.