title: The competent offspring of psychiatrically ill parents. Part I: A literature review.
abstract: An ever-growing body of literature describes the plight of being the offspring of psychiatrically ill parents. Yet, a significant number of children with such a disadvantaged background conquer their handicap and become reasonably well-adjusted people. These children have been labelled "invulnerable" and "competent". This literature review includes some of the attempts at defining this subgroup and points out a certain overlap between the concepts of positive mental health and competency. It delineates some of the possible genetic, constitutional, psychological and environmental factors involved. Lastly, it surveys some of the experimental attempts to enhance the competency of these children.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010553:Personality Development; D012306:Risk; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment