Indicadores de gravidade da depressão materna: impacto para problemas comportamentais de escolares

This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the city of Ribeirao Preto aims to systematize clinical indicators associated with the severity of recurrent depression in mothers of school-aged children and assess the impact of these indicators on their children’s behavior, as well as to identify whether there is interference of social determinants associated with the sociodemographic conditions of families. Data collection considered the period from 2007 to 2013, 100 mothers with school-age children were evaluated and divided into Depression Group and Comparison Group with 50 dyads each. Sociodemographic questionnaire, Questionnaire on Patient Health-9, Structured Clinical Interview and Capacity and Difficulties Questionnaire were used. It was found that, regardless of social vulnerabilities, the severity of depression was configured as a risk factor for more behavioral problems in children in general (p<0.001; R ² a=0.138), internalizing (emotional symptoms - p<0.001; R ² a=0.186 - and relationship problems - p<0.001; R ² a=0.141) and externalizing (conduct problems - p = 0.044; R ² a=0.031). The evaluation of specific clinical indicators of depression can be used as a complement in the systematic screening of depression at different levels of health care, expanding the quality of evaluations and the care for maternal and child mental health.