Mortality risk among offspring of psychiatric inpatients: a population-based follow-up to early adulthood

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article was to estimate relative risks of all-cause mortality associated with parental psychiatric disorder based on offspring age (up to 25 years of age), parental diagnosis, maternal versus paternal disorder, and number of affected parents. METHOD: The study group consisted of all Danish singleton live and stillbirths (N=1.46 million) during 1973-1998, identified using the Central Population Register and Medical Birth Register. Dates of death were recorded with follow-up to Jan. 1, 1999. Parental admission histories since 1969 were obtained from the Psychiatric Central Register. RESULTS: Mortality risks were elevated from birth through early adulthood among offspring of people admitted with any type of psychopathology, although relative risks were attenuated during school attendance years. Effect sizes varied according to offspring ages, the highest being during infancy. The following high-risk subgroups were identified: postneonates with two mentally ill parents, neonates and postneonates whose mothers had alcohol and drug-related disorders, and neonates whose mothers had affective disorders. In general, from the postneonatal period onward, there was no indication that maternal psychopathology is associated with higher offspring mortality risk than paternal disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The greatest number of excess deaths were attributable to alcohol-related disorders, this being the most prevalent paternal diagnostic category and the second most prevalent in mothers. Some findings were unexpected. For example, there was no evidence that mortality risk among offspring of parents with schizophrenia and related disorders was significantly greater than that associated with all other parental psychiatric conditions, whereas the relative risk for neonatal death associated with maternal affective disorders was markedly raised.     

A catch-up study of former child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients: psychiatric status in adulthood

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to reassess former child and adolescent psychiatric patients as adults with regard to their further development. METHODS: We used a 'catch-up' design. A former child and adolescent psychiatric patient cohort and controls (matched for sex and age) were assessed as adults with standardized instruments (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, International Personality Disorder Examination, biography, psychiatric history, Global Assessment Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale). RESULTS: We assessed 164 former patients and 80 controls. The mean catch-up period was 13.2 years, and the subjects had a mean age of 24.8 years. Thirty-nine percent of the former patients and 25% of the controls fulfilled criteria for an ICD-10 diagnosis (present state) at catch-up, with a clear excess of personality disorders in the former patient group (13 vs. 3%). Using a survival analysis we estimated that 38% of the former patients and 10% of the controls would undergo psychiatric treatment between the ages of 18 and 31 years. CONCLUSIONS: Most former child and adolescent psychiatric patients did not come into contact with psychiatric treatment facilities again in their twenties, although they had a higher risk for a psychiatric disorder than controls. Nevertheless, the risk of later developing a personality disorder according to ICD-10 seems to be markedly raised for former child and adolescent psychiatric patients.     

Adverse childhood experiences and suicidal behavior of adolescent psychiatric inpatients

The present study examines the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to suicidal behavior and mortality in 508 Finnish adolescents (aged 12–17 years) who required acute psychiatric hospitalization between April 2001 and March 2006. The Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present and Lifetime (K-SADS-PL) and the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI) were used to obtain information about ACEs, adolescents’ suicidal behavior and psychiatric diagnoses. The cases of death were obtained from Statistics Finland. The results of our study indicated that, among girls, exposure to sexual abuse statistically significantly increased the risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) (OR, 1.8; 95 % CI, 1.0–3.2) and suicide attempts (OR, 2.3; 95 % CI, 1.0–4.5). The cumulative number of ACEs was also associated with an increased risk of NSSI (OR, 1.2; 95 % CI, 1.0- 1.4) and suicide attempts (OR, 1.2; 95 % CI, 1.0–1.4) in girls. Among all deceased adolescents, ACEs were most notable among those who had died due to accidents and injuries. Gender differences in the types of ACEs were noted and discussed.     

A prospective study of offspring of women with psychosis: visual dysfunction in early childhood predicts schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in adulthood

OBJECTIVE: Children with visual dysfunction have perinatal, neurological, visual-perceptual and cognitive abnormalities, similar to schizophrenia patients. We prospectively investigated whether visual dysfunction in childhood selectively predicts adult schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, and is related to childhood neurological abnormality. METHOD: Offspring of mothers with and without a history of psychosis were prospectively assessed with vision tests at 4 years, neurological examinations at 6 years, and interviews for psychiatric disorders at follow-up (93% effective, n=166) at 22 years. RESULTS: In the total sample and high-risk (HR) offspring, visual dysfunction at 4 years, and its severity, were associated only with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in adulthood, and with neurological abnormality at 6 years. CONCLUSION: Visual dysfunction at 4 years of age selectively predicts schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in adulthood among HR offspring, this likely reflecting disturbed neurological development.     

住院成年早期双相情感障碍患者自杀相关因素研究

目的 探索分析成年早期双相情感障碍住院患者自杀行为的相关因素。方法 选取 2018 年 1— 12 月在首都医科大学附属北京安定医院住院的 521 例成年早期（18～25 岁）双相情感障碍 患者为研究对象,按照是否曾有过自杀,分为自杀组（n=140）与无自杀组（n=381）,比较两组患者的 一般资料及疾病亚型。通过二分类 Logistic 回归分析探讨成年早期双相情感障碍患者自杀危险因素。 结果 与无自杀组比较,自杀组女性［70.0%（98/140）比 47.8%（182/381）］、冲动性格者［29.3%（41/140） 比 19.2%（73/381）］、有重大精神创伤史者［14.3%（20/140）比 4.5%（17/381）］占比更高,差异均有统计 学意义（χ2 =20.350、6.141、16.941;P＜ 0.05）。二分类 Logistic 回归分析显示,女性［OR=0.375,95%CI （0.226～0.564）,P＜ 0.001］、冲动性格［OR=0.603,95%CI（0.377～0.963）,P=0.034］、有重大精神创伤史 ［OR=0.295,95%CI（0.144～0.604）,P=0.001］是成年早期双相情感障碍患者发生自杀的独立危险因素。 结论 女性、性格冲动、有重大精神创伤史的成年早期双相情感障碍患者发生自杀的风险更高。     

Personality disorders evident by early adulthood and risk for anxiety disorders during middle adulthood

Data from the Children in the Community Study, a prospective longitudinal investigation, were used to investigate the association of personality disorder (PD) traits, evident by early adulthood, with risk for development of anxiety disorders by middle adulthood. Individuals without a history of anxiety disorders who met diagnostic criteria for >or=1 PD by early adulthood were at markedly elevated risk for agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder by middle adulthood. Antisocial, avoidant, borderline, dependent, depressive, histrionic, obsessive-compulsive, passive-aggressive, and schizotypal PD traits, evident by early adulthood, were associated with elevated risk for >or=1 anxiety disorder during middle adulthood. These associations remained significant after a history of anxiety disorder and co-occurring Axis I psychiatric disorder was controlled statistically. Findings of this study suggest that some types of PD traits that become evident by early adulthood may contribute to increased risk for the development of anxiety disorders by middle adulthood.     

Psychological and behavioral functioning in adolescent psychiatric inpatients who report histories of childhood abuse

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine psychological and behavioral functioning in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents who report histories of childhood abuse. METHOD: Three hundred twenty-two subjects completed an assessment battery of psychometrically well-established instruments. Childhood abuse was assessed by using the childhood abuse scale of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory. Childhood abuse scores of 30 or less and 70 or greater were used to create two study groups--no abuse (N = 93) and high abuse (N = 70), respectively. The two study groups were compared demographically and on the battery of instruments. RESULTS: The two groups differed substantially on most measures of psychological disturbance examined by the assessment battery. When age and depression level were controlled, the high-abuse group was characterized by significantly higher levels of dependency, suicidality, violence, impulsivity, substance use problems, and borderline tendency. Correlational analyses with the entire study group (N = 322) revealed that higher levels of these psychological problems were positively associated with higher levels of childhood abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents who report childhood abuse present with a constellation of symptoms that, after removing the effects of depression, are consistent with borderline personality in statu nascendi.     

General and specific childhood risk factors for depression and drug disorders by early adulthood

OBJECTIVE: To identify childhood risk factors that predict depression and drug disorders by early adulthood, distinguishing between general risk factors for both disorders and specific risk factors for each individual disorder. METHOD: Within a longitudinal community study (N = 360), familial and behavioral-emotional characteristics were assessed in early childhood (ages 5, 6, and 9 years). At age 21, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, version III-revised, provided lifetime diagnoses of major depression and drug abuse/dependence. RESULTS: Sibling substance use disorders predicted depression and drug disorders for both genders. Feelings of anxiety, depression, and peer rejection were general predictors for females. Specific risk factors for depression were parental depression and anxious/depressed behavior in both genders and peer problems for males. Specific risk factors for drug abuse/dependence were larger family size, lower socioeconomic status, hyperactivity, attention problems, and aggression. Parental substance abuse and having younger parents were specific risk factors for drug disorders in males. CONCLUSIONS: Familial and behavioral-emotional risk factors for depression and drug disorders were primarily specific, suggesting separate pathways. The unique perspectives of multiple informants facilitate early identification.     

Further evidence for the significance of a childhood abuse history in psychiatric inpatients

The high prevalence of histories of childhood sexual and physical abuse in inpatient psychiatric populations is documented. In the present study, 38 female inpatients on a psychiatric unit in a teaching hospital were administered an abuse questionnaire and standard measures of psychological distress. Seventy-six percent of the women reported some history of abuse before the age of 16. As predicted, women who reported a childhood history of physical or sexual abuse scored significantly higher on measures of symptomatology and psychopathology as compared with women who did not report an abuse history. Findings confirm the reports of previous researchers, providing further evidence of the generalizability of these observations.     

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and psychopathology in offspring followed to adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: To extend findings from several independent reports of an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and substance abuse in the offspring. METHOD: This is a 10-year longitudinal study of offspring assessed at 3 points in time into adulthood. Fifty offspring of mothers who reported smoking at least 10 cigarettes almost daily during pregnancy and 97 offspring of mothers who reported never smoking during pregnancy were studied. Psychiatric diagnosis in offspring was assessed blind to parental diagnosis. RESULTS: There was a greater than 4-fold increased risk of prepubertal-onset conduct disorder in boys and a greater than 5-fold increased risk of adolescent-onset drug dependence in girls whose mothers smoked 10 or more cigarettes almost daily during pregnancy. These findings could not be explained by maternal substance abuse during pregnancy, parental psychiatric diagnosis, family risk factors, prenatal and early developmental history of offspring, postnatal maternal smoking, or smoking in the offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal smoking during pregnancy may have a long-term effect on specific psychopathology in offspring. The underlying pathophysiology of nicotine on the fetus requires study. The findings suggest the importance of programs aimed at smoking prevention and cessation in women during pregnancy.     

Associations between bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders during adolescence and early adulthood: a community-based longitudinal investigation

OBJECTIVE: The study investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders during adolescence and early adulthood. METHOD: Psychiatric interviews were administered to a representative community sample of 717 youths and their mothers in 1983 (mean age of youths=14 years) and again in 1985-1986, and 1991-1993. RESULTS: A wide range of psychiatric disorders co-occurred with bipolar disorder during adolescence and early adulthood. Adolescent anxiety disorders were uniquely associated with increased risk for early adulthood bipolar disorder after adolescent bipolar disorder was accounted for. Manic symptoms during adolescence were associated with increased risk for anxiety and depressive disorders during early adulthood after adolescent anxiety and depressive disorders were accounted for. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with anxiety disorders may be at increased risk for bipolar disorder or clinically significant manic symptoms during early adulthood. Adolescents with manic symptoms may be at increased risk for anxiety and depressive disorders during early adulthood.     

Psychopathology and impairment of quality of life in offspring of psychiatric inpatients in southern Brazil: a preliminary study

Objective

To evaluate the quality of life and risk of psychopathology in the infant and adolescent offspring of psychiatric inpatients from a general hospital unit.

Methods

Offspring (4–17 years old) of psychiatric inpatients were interviewed face-to-face and assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Interviews with caregivers and the hospitalized parents were also performed. The quality of life of the offspring, psychopathology of their hospitalized parents, and their current caregivers were investigated in order to evaluate any associations between these aspects and psychopathology in the offspring.

Results

Thirty-four children of 25 patients were evaluated, 38.2% of which presented high risk for some type of psychopathology including hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder (38.2%), behavioral disorders (20.6%), and emotional disorders (17.6%). While only the minority of these children (17.6%) were already receiving mental health treatment, another 41.2% of them exhibited some degree of symptoms and were only referred for specialized assessment. Additionally, 61.8% of the children were reported to be suffering from some impairment in their quality of life.

Conclusion

This preliminary study found a high rate of psychopathology in children of psychiatric inpatients. These results corroborate previous evidence that children and adolescents with parents with severe psychopathology are at high risk for developing mental disorders. Public policies and standard protocols of action directed to this population are urgently needed, especially for offspring of parents that are hospitalized in psychiatric in-patient units of general hospitals.