[Developmental problems in young adults suffering from mental illness: results from an in-depth interview study]. / Entwicklungsprobleme bei jungen Erwachsenen mit einer psychischen Erkrankung: Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Interviewstudie.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at investigating the impact of mental illness on the general psycho-social development of young adults. METHODS: Results from an in-depth interview study with 16 young adults (20 to 31 years old) suffering from mental illness are presented. Particularly, illness-related issues were explored from the perspective of developmental psychology. RESULTS: Coping with typical developmental tasks of early adulthood (e. g. autonomy; intimate relationships; vocational training) is impeded. At the same time, young patients wish as much normality as possible in their daily life, e. g. social contacts with not-affected peers. In many cases, young adults affected try to maintain a cautious distance to psychiatric facilities as well as to other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Young people suffering from mental illness are in a complicated process of identity formation, as they have to integrate the illness into their self-concept and their daily life (illness-identity work). Hence, their assistance needs are different from those of older patients. It is a challenge for community based psychiatry to provide help offers which meet the specific requirements of young mentally ill people.

[Between taking responsibility and becoming independent. Adolescents with a mentally ill parent]. / Zwischen Verantwortungsübernahme und Autonomieentwicklung: Jugendliche mit einem psychisch kranken Elternteil.

By now there is a relatively broadly based basic research as to burden and developmental risks in children of mentally ill parents. Nevertheless, hardly any studies exist focusing the living situation of teenagers concerned. This article presents results from an in-depth interview study with 15 adolescents (15 to 21 years old) who have a mentally ill parent. Particularly, the living situation of the study participants was explored from the perspective of developmental psychology, i. e. considering age-specific developmental tasks. The results show that, in many cases, daily life and future perspectives of adolescents are greatly affected by the mental illness of a parent. Based on the results of the study, the article presents conclusions for further research and psychosocial practice. Generally, professional assistance for children of mentally ill people should be on hand as early as possible. When planning specific help offers for adolescents affected, compatibility to their emotional life-world should be taken into consideration. Involving peer counsellors and offering web-based psychological assistance can contribute to better get in touch with adolescent clients.

["He will never be able to stand on his own two feet": developmental problems in families with schizophrenia patients from the parents' perspective]. / "Auf eigenen Beinen wird er nie stehen können": Entwicklungsprobleme in Familien mit schizophrenen Patienten aus Sicht der Eltern.

BACKGROUND: From the perspective of developmental psychology, schizophrenia constitutes a serious developmental risk, since it obstructs a "normal" psychosocial development. Hardly any investigations up until now have focused on this important aspect. AIM: To investigate in an explorative study the developmental problems in families with an adult child with schizophrenia. METHOD: Parents of schizophrenia patients were interviewed within the scope of narrative interviews about their familial situations and their relationship to the patient. The data were selected and analysed following the guidelines of Grounded Theory and Thematic Field Analysis. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia often remain dependent on their parents' emotional, practical and financial support. Typically, the parent-child-relation is re-intensified, often with a co-occurring loss of extra-familial social contacts. From a biographical point of view, schizophrenia is often connected with permanent parenthood and lifelong parental help. DISCUSSION: Support offers for families should take into account illness-related developmental problems, especially problems regarding the difficult detachment of the patients from their parents.