[sak9645]

... the nature of the bouts of depression.

If the bouts of depression caused you to attempt suicide and/or to require inpatient hospitalization, they could be a problem, especially if they occurred in recent years. Also, if the bouts of depression were part of a more complex psychiatric problem, such as bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness), they could be a problem.

However, if the bouts of depression consisted of lingering feelings of sadness and hopelessness, especially related to a difficult life event, such as a miscarriage, and if the treatment involved only medication and/or "talk therapy", they are usually not a barrier to adoption. Social workers know that many people become depressed as a result of infertility, miscarriage, or other life stresses, such as loss of a job or end of a marriage. They also know that it is better to seek help early, than to risk having symptoms escalate. Moreover, the person whose depression is resolved makes a much better parent than the person who does not get help.

Your homestudy agency will probably require you to obtain a letter from your therapist, outlining your diagnosis, treatment, and likely prognosis, as well as commenting on your fitness for parenthood. In some cases, an agency may require a second opinion from a different therapist.

Sharon