(Image source from: Thrive Nutrition Practice)

The bond between parent and child extends far beyond sharing similar looks or behaviors as a new study suggests that treating depression in teenagers may benefit their parent's mental health too.

The findings of a study suggest that when a teenager's psychological state is improved through treatment, so did the depression experienced by his or her parents.

"Depression is a massive public health concern that will take a variety of approaches to better manage. We believe our study is among the first to evaluate how the emotional health of a child can impact that of the parents," said co-author Mark A. Reinecke from the Northwestern University in the United States.

The study was presented at American Psychological Association's 126th Annual Convention.

The study entailed 325 teenagers who had been diagnosed with depression and 325 of their parents or caregivers. The teenagers were indiscriminately allotted to one of three groups - those who took antidepressants, those who received cognitive behavioral therapy or those who used a combination of both.

The initial treatment period of time ran for about one year, with an additional year of follow-up visits, the researchers said. One-quarter of the parents who took part as well reported moderate to severe levels of depression before the treatment period, the researcher added.

The treatment procedure was not family-based, though few parts included the parent.

The researchers found a positive ripple effect because when the severity of a teenagers depression lessened, so did similar symptoms in the parent, regardless of what treatment was used.

"More young people today are reporting persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and suicidal thoughts," said Kelsey R. Howard from the varsity. "This research may help healthcare providers as we grapple as a nation with how to address these alarming trends," Howard noted.

By Sowmya Sangam