Offspring of parents with major mood disorders (MDDs) are at increased risk for early psychopathology. We aim to compare the rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and controls.

We established a lifetime diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, communication disorders, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disorders, and motor disorders] using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime Version in 400 participants (mean age 11.3 + s.d. 3.9 years), including 93 offspring of parents with bipolar disorder, 182 offspring of parents with major depressive disorder, and 125 control offspring of parents with no mood disorder.

Neurodevelopmental disorders were elevated in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder [odds ratio (OR) 2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–4.47, p = 0.010] and major depressive disorder (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.03–3.39, p = 0.035) compared to controls. This difference was driven by the rates of ADHD, which were highest among offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (30.1%), intermediate in offspring of parents with major depressive disorder (24.2%), and lowest in controls (14.4%). There were no significant differences in frequencies of other neurodevelopmental disorders between the three groups. Chronic course of mood disorder in parents was associated with higher rates of any neurodevelopmental disorder and higher rates of ADHD in offspring.

Our findings suggest monitoring for ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring of parents with MDDs may be indicated to improve early diagnosis and treatment.

患有严重情绪障碍 (MDD) 的父母的后代患早期精神病理学的风险增加。我们的目的是比较患有双相情感障碍、重度抑郁症和对照组的父母后代神经发育障碍的发生率。

我们使用 Kiddie 情感障碍和精神分裂症现在和终生时间表对神经发育障碍 [注意缺陷/多动障碍 (ADHD)、自闭症谱系障碍、沟通障碍、智力障碍、特定学习障碍和运动障碍] 进行了终生诊断400 名参与者（平均年龄 11.3 + 标准差3.9 岁）的版本，包括双相情感障碍父母的 93 名后代、重度抑郁症父母的 182 名后代和无情绪障碍父母的 125 名对照后代。

双相情感障碍[优势比 (OR) 2.34, 95% 置信区间 (CI) 1.23–4.47, p = 0.010]和重度抑郁症 (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.03–3.39, p = 0.035) 与对照相比。这种差异是由多动症的发生率驱动的，双相情感障碍父母的后代患多动症的比例最高 (30.1%)，重度抑郁症父母的后代患多动症的比例居中 (24.2%)，对照组最低 (14.4%)。三组之间其他神经发育障碍的频率没有显着差异。父母的慢性情绪障碍与后代神经发育障碍和多动症发生率较高有关。

我们的研究结果表明，对患有 MDD 的父母的后代进行 ADHD 和其他神经发育障碍的监测可能有助于改善早期诊断和治疗。