Several studies have shown that the kids of depressed mothers are at higher risk for depression but a latest study has found that the successful treatment of the mother could majorly improve the prospects of her child.

The researchers studied 80 depressed mothers and their children who were participating in a bigger trial conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and they found that depression symptoms, behavioral problems, and other signs of distress among children tended to correspond with the mothers’ response to treatment.

Columbia University Professor of epidemiology and psychiatry, Myrna M. Weissman, PhD, said, “Treatment of depression is trial and error, but many patients give up very early and decide they can’t be helped. This study showed that improvement is possible even after several unsuccessful tries, and that successful treatment of the parent has a long-lasting impact on the child”.

All of the mothers were suffering from depression without any history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and they were treated with the antidepressant Celexa, followed by other drug treatments, behavioral therapy or a combination of behavioral therapy.

After a period of time, researchers observed long-term improvements in children whose mothers were benefitted from the treatment.