[Burden of Children of Patients with Mental Illness - A High Risk Population that Needs Selective and Indicated Prevention?] / Belastung von Kindern psychisch erkrankter Eltern im Normgruppenvergleich ­ eine Hochrisikogruppe für selektive und indizierte Prävention?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determinate behavioral problems of children of parents with mental illness. Conclusions for prevention. METHODS: Inpatients from a psychiatric hospital (N = 399) with children (4-18 yrs.) evaluated their children's behavior with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: Children of mentally ill parents showed significantly more behavioral problems than children of healthy parents. They had overall fewer behavioral problems compared to children with mental illness, however, behavioral problems were similar with respect to "social problems" (4-11 year-old boys, 12-18 year-old girls) and "somatic complaints" (12-18 year-old boys and girls). CONCLUSION: Results indicate a selective, partly indicated, need for prevention. The data point towards certain areas of behavioral problems that should be particularly targeted when planning such programs.