title: [Adult children of alcoholics. A new diagnostic group with reference to general practice and clinical aspects].
abstract: FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: Adult children of alcoholics have, in recent years, become identified as a specific group with often characteristic patterns of health disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those involved have a three- to four-fold greater risk of developing a dependence themselves than the general population. They are more likely to marry partners who are also dependent and have an above-average propensity toward separation and divorce. Most members of this group have adopted a specific role within the family they come from: for example that of the whipping boy, family hero or fool. Of therapeutic importance is the recognition of one's own involvement through parent dependence and to develop an awareness of specific areas of disorder, for example, in a partnership, self-identity crises, emotional blockades and the risk of becoming dependent oneself.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapists with experience of habit-forming disorders and social family work can develop specific activities within the general practice, psychosocial counseling centers, and even in detoxication services. The new self-help groups of adult children of alcoholics are very helpful.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Psychiatrie I der Universität Ulm.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mäulen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Faust
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010553:Personality Development; D011613:Psychotherapy
vernacular_title: Erwachsene Kinder von Alkoholikern. Eine neue diagnostische Gruppe mit Relevanz für Praxis und Klinik.