Association between parental psychiatric illness and psychological well-being of their children

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents are the pillars of a healthy society. Researches have explored significantly higher rate of psychopathology in children whose parents (either) have psychiatric illness in comparison to the general community (25%–50% v/s. 20%). Parental psychiatric illness (PPI) has significant long-term consequences on child's development-general health, cognitive stimulation, social, emotional, and behavioral maturity. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems of children of parents with psychiatric illness. METHODOLOGY: The present cross-sectional study attempted to evaluate the factors linked with the PPI and overall child's development. Two hundred and six parents with psychiatric illness (>1-year duration) were included in the research. RESULTS: A total of 206 families (either mother/father) and their children 353 in number (<18 years) were included in the study. Slightly higher percentage of mother as participant was observed (56.8% v/s. 43.2%). In 80% of the families, mother was the primary caregiver of the children. Marital discord was prevalent in these families (17.9% reported by mother v/s. 31.5% reported by father). CONCLUSION: Early identification of the soft indicators of the children of PPI should be identified along with the treatment of their parents. Schools should be oriented to initiative an early assessment by the evaluation of the children with psychiatrist/psychologist.