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Mental health problems in children of somatically ill parents, e.g. multiple sclerosis
Barbara Steck1, Felix Amsler, Andrea Grether
1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Basel, Schaffhauserrheinweg 55, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Insights
Children with a parent suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) face increased risks of internalizing psychological disorders, particularly when both parents experience depression. Early intervention is crucial for these vulnerable children.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease impacting families.
- Parental mental health, particularly depression, can significantly affect child psychological well-being.
- Understanding risk factors in offspring of MS patients is critical for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of psychological symptoms in children of parents with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- To identify risk factors associated with MS severity and parental depression affecting offspring mental health.
- To assess the impact of parental depression on children's psychological adjustment within MS families.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 144 families with MS patients, their partners, and 192 children.
- Data collected from three European child and adolescent psychiatric university centers using questionnaires.
- Evaluation of psychological symptoms in offspring, disease severity, and parental depression levels.
Main Results:
- Severe MS is linked to increased parental depression in both affected and healthy parents.
- Depressed parents, especially mothers, report higher rates of internalizing psychological problems in their children.
- Children with two depressed parents exhibit internalizing symptoms at 2-3 times the age-norm prevalence.
Conclusions:
- Children in families with a parent affected by MS and parental depression are at high risk for mental health issues, especially internalizing disorders.
- Addressing parental psychological needs is essential when focusing on the mental health of children in MS-affected families.
- This study highlights the need for comprehensive family support in managing MS and its psychological impact on children.
Objectives:
Based on the investigation of 144 families (144 patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), 109 partners, and 192 children) examined in three different European child and adolescent psychiatric University centres by means of questionnaires, we evaluated the prevalence of psychological symptoms in the offspring and associated risk factors such as duration and severity of the disease as well as depression of the ill and the healthy parent.
Results:
Indicate that the severe disease of MS is associated with depression of the ill and healthy parent. Ill parents, especially ill mothers, as well as depressed ill, or depressed healthy parents evaluate their children's mental health problems with a higher prevalence within the internalizing spectrum. Healthy parents report normal psychological adjustment of their children. If two parents present a depressive state, the prevalence of relevant psychological internalizing symptoms is twice or three times as high as the age norms.
Conclusion:
Children in families with a parent affected by MS and associated depression of the parental couple are at high risk of mental health problems, especially internalizing disorders. In focusing on the mental health of children one must also be aware of the potential opportunities to address the parents' own psychological needs.
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