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Growing up with a psychotic mother: a retrospective study
1Woodburn Center for Community Mental Health, Annandale, VA.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Children of mothers with psychosis experienced abuse, neglect, and isolation. Despite challenges, they developed resilience and coping strategies, highlighting needs for family mental health support.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Child Development
Background:
- Parental psychosis poses significant risks to child development.
- Understanding the long-term impact on children is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the childhood experiences of adults reared by mothers with psychosis.
- To identify common themes and coping mechanisms in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective qualitative analysis of interviews with nine adults.
- Thematic analysis of reported childhood experiences.
Main Results:
- Five prevalent themes emerged: abuse/neglect, isolation, guilt/loyalty conflicts, mental health service grievances, and social support utilization.
- Participants demonstrated resilience and employed various coping strategies.
Conclusions:
- Adults reared by mothers with psychosis face unique challenges, including trauma and service-related issues.
- Therapeutic interventions should address these specific needs and foster resilience within these families.