Results of the study indicated that children of depressed parents had significantly higher rates of behavior problems and symptoms at baseline than did comparison children. Although this study did not address the direct treatment of children with emotional or behavioral problems, the findings suggest that the screening and treatment of depressed parents may work in synergy with the treatment of these children. At the 2-year follow-up, children of depressed parents who responded to treatment had significantly greater reductions in emotional symptoms and behavior problems (58 percent reduction) and in financial expenditures for health and social services than did the children of depressed parents who did not respond to treatment. Methodology involved screening 4,327 patients of a Health Services Organization with the University of Michigan Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Participants who were also parents were interviewed regarding their children’s behavior and health and social services use over the past 6 months. Of the original sample of patients, 707 met the criteria for a depressive disorder and were randomized to receive 1 of 3 types of treatment. The 2-year follow-up focused on treatment success or failure for parents and subsequent impacts on children’s behavior and services usage, which were measured using parent response to the Child Behavior Checklist and the Health and Social Service Utilization Questionnaire. Tables, references