title: Mental health problems in children of somatically ill parents, e.g. multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on the investigation of 144 families (144 patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), 109 partners, and 192 children) examined in three different European child and adolescent psychiatric University centres by means of questionnaires, we evaluated the prevalence of psychological symptoms in the offspring and associated risk factors such as duration and severity of the disease as well as depression of the ill and the healthy parent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indicate that the severe disease of MS is associated with depression of the ill and healthy parent. Ill parents, especially ill mothers, as well as depressed ill, or depressed healthy parents evaluate their children's mental health problems with a higher prevalence within the internalizing spectrum. Healthy parents report normal psychological adjustment of their children. If two parents present a depressive state, the prevalence of relevant psychological internalizing symptoms is twice or three times as high as the age norms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children in families with a parent affected by MS and associated depression of the parental couple are at high risk of mental health problems, especially internalizing disorders. In focusing on the mental health of children one must also be aware of the potential opportunities to address the parents' own psychological needs.
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Basel, Schaffhauserrheinweg 55, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steck
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amsler
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grether
authors.forename: Alexandra Schwald
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dillier
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldus
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haagen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diareme
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsiantis
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bürgin
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires