Multidimensional and intergenerational impact of Severe Mental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• Severe Mental Disorders (SMD) have intergenerational consequences that are not well understood.
• This study examines the multidimensional impacts of SMD across generations in rural Ethiopia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the intergenerational and multidimensional impacts of Severe Mental Disorders (SMD) in rural Ethiopia.
• To assess the effects of SMD on poverty, mortality, food insecurity, and family satisfaction across generations.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study nested within a population-based cohort.
• Data collected in 2019 from 5762 family members across 532 households (266 with SMD, 266 matched controls).
• Main outcomes measured: multidimensional poverty, mortality, food insecurity, and family satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Households with SMD had higher multidimensional poverty (74.44% vs 38.35%) and severe food insecurity (20.68% vs 13.53%).
• Children and siblings of individuals with SMD showed lower school attendance and fewer years of schooling.
• Family members in households with SMD had a 23% increased risk of death over 20 years and reported lower family satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Families affected by Severe Mental Disorders face widespread multidimensional and intergenerational challenges.
• Interventions must address the comprehensive social and healthcare needs of the entire family unit.
• Findings underscore the need for integrated family-centered care approaches for SMD.