ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is increased risk for children with a mentally ill parent to get a mental illness. In Germany, it is assumed that the risk for psychological abnormalities in children with a mentally ill parent is increased by a factor of 2,4. The aim of this study was to give an overview of psychological abnormalities in children with mentally ill parents. METHODS: Patients were asked about their children and possible psychological abnormalities in their children during their stay in a psychiatric ward. Data of n=118 children (51,7%) of psychiatric inpatients could be used for analyses. RESULTS: One-fourth of the children showed psychological abnormalities. According to their parent, one fourth was also in psychotherapeutic/psychiatric treatment. There were no differences in the abnormalities associated with sociodemographic factors of the parent. CONCLUSION: Our results show that children of a mentally ill parent also suffer from psychological abnormalities. More explicit analyses of the care situation of these children as well as data from direct interviews with them are needed.
