New study explores mental health research priorities of families affected by depression

A new publication in BMJ Mental Health highlights which mental health research topics matter most to parents with depression and their children.

The study, led by researchers at the Wolfson Centre, aimed to understand the priorities of those directly affected by depression so that those insights could help shape future mental health research agendas.

Using data from the UK Early Prediction of Adolescent Depression (EPAD) study, the team conducted interviews with 161 parents and 131 of their young adult children. Participants were asked open-ended questions about the kinds of research they felt were most important. The research team reviewed and grouped the responses to find common themes in what participants said.

Several key priorities emerged:

• Treatment and intervention, including early intervention and prevention
• Public understanding of mental health
• Environmental and social influences that contribute to mental health challenges
• Genetic factors involved in how mental health difficulties are passed between generations
• A need for developmental and intergenerational research approaches

While previous studies have highlighted the importance of interventions and social risk factors, this study also underscores the demand for more research into the causes of mental health difficulties, including how genetic and environmental factors interact.

The full paper, Exploring the mental health research priorities of parents with depression and their children, is published in BMJ Mental Health and is available to read online.