By Richard P. Holm MD

• Nurture versus nature is a question often bandied about. Is it the environment in which the child is raised, or is it the genetics and hardwiring provided by the biological parents that most influence what kind of person a child will grow to be?
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• We have known for a long time that if a parent is depressed, the children have a major risk for anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavior. Indeed, offspring of depressed parents have a two- to three-times higher risk of these problems compared with children of parents who are not depressed. So is it because of the environment or is it genetics?
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• Research published in the Journal of the AMA brings us closer to an answer for that age-old question. The study involved mothers with depression, since women are more likely to come in for treatment, but the researchers believe what they found is very likely true for either parent. The fascinating results showed resolution of psychiatric problems in the child when the mother was effectively treated.
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• Study author Myrna Weissman, professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at Columbia University, said, "While depression may be a genetic disorder, [this study showed that] a parent's illness has a very strong environmental effect on her child." In other words, when Mama's not happy, nobody's happy. Weissman also pointed out "If you have a depressed mother, you ought to do everything you can to get her better, because there's a double effect."
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• I think the message from this research is very powerful, and should be taken to heart by any mother or father. If you as a parent are having psychological trouble, get help and your child will be better for it. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your kids.
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• Dr. Rick Holm wrote this Prairie Doc Perspective for "On Call®," a weekly program where medical professionals discuss health concerns for the general public.  "On Call®" is produced by the Healing Words Foundation in association with the South Dakota State University Journalism Department. "On Call®" airs Thursdays on South Dakota Public Broadcasting-Television at 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain. Visit us at OnCallTelevision.com.