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Changes in rituals and routines between drinking and sobriety were examined in families in treatment due to paternal alcohol abuse. Information was gathered through a semistructured family interview. Recurrent disruptions of rituals and routines were found between different phases in the drinking cycle. Disruptions were found typically with regard to the fathers' participation in rituals and routines, the parental roles and responsibility, the affective quality of the rituals, and the general family climate. Four categories of families were distinguished based on amount and type of disruptions in family rituals and routines (i.e. protecting, emotional disruptive, exposing, and chaotic families). Implications for intervention are described.

Parental mental illness is a major risk factor for youth psychopathology, but few studies have used data from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to investigate this group. We used a unique linkage between a CAMHS-registry and a large population-based survey of Norwegian adolescents aged 16–19 years. Nine hundred and seventy adolescents received CAMHS, of whom 87 (9%) were registered with a parent with mental illness. These adolescents had increased odds for a range of psychiatric disorders and comorbidity compared with CAMHS-patients. These findings underscore the need to consider parental mental illness when assessing and treating adolescents with psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mothers' and fathers' internalizing symptoms may influence children's anxiety symptoms differently. Objective: To explore the relationship between parental internalizing symptoms and children's anxiety symptoms in a clinical sample of children with anxiety disorders. Method: The sample was recruited through community mental health clinics for a randomized controlled anxiety treatment trial. At pre-intervention, children (n = 182), mothers (n = 165), and fathers (n = 72) reported children's anxiety symptoms. Mothers and fathers also reported their own internalizing symptoms. The children were aged 8 to 15 years (Mage = 11.5 years, SD = 2.1, 52.2% girls) and all had a diagnosis of separation anxiety, social phobia, and/or generalized anxiety disorder. We examined parental internalizing symptoms as predictors of child anxiety symptoms in multiple regression models. Results: Both mother and father rated internalizing symptoms predicted children's self-rated anxiety levels (adj. R2 = 22.0%). Mother-rated internalizing symptoms predicted mother-rated anxiety symptoms in children (adj. R2 = 7.0%). Father-rated internalizing symptoms did not predict father-rated anxiety in children. Conclusions: Clinicians should incorporate parental level of internalizing symptoms in their case conceptualizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance-dependent mothers, who have grown up with parental substance abuse, struggle during and after treatment to abstain from substances while trying to process traumatic experiences and integrate their family into society. The aim of this study was to explore the social support available for these mothers to help them stay abstinent and create safe family environments for themselves and their children. Using purposeful sampling, we approached nine mothers admitted for 1 year to a family ward at a substance abuse clinic and their significant others. Through in-depth, qualitative interviews, first with the mothers, later with their significant others, we investigated characteristics of the available social support. The findings indicated that the significant others had limited resources and were themselves exposed to adverse and cumulative psychosocial and socioeconomic risk factors. Their relationships with the mothers were, nevertheless, close, consistent and reliable. Supporting the existing social network should be an integrated part of the work of family welfare services aiming to help substance-dependent mothers from families with parental substance abuse to rehabilitate and to integrate successfully into local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boys with sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) represent an understudied group. We examined parent-reported physical and socio-emotional problems in 25 boys with SCA (Mean age = 11.7 years, SD = 4.5). The majority had no severe physical health problems. One third of the sample had sleep problems and half of them had weekly or monthly pain. Total emotional and behavior problems, as assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were at the same level as reported for boys referred to child mental health clinics. Thus, boys with SCA may have the same need for psychological assessment and intervention as clinic-referred boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Dual treatment of parents with substance-use disorders (SUD) is an approach which aims to meet the needs of both SUD patients and their children. Whereas the parents need to learn to live without substances, the children need a predictable and structured environment with parents who are sensitive and psychologically available. In this study we explore the possibilities and challenges of this joint approach from the perspectives of professionals employed in an in-patient facility for families with parental SUD., Methods: A qualitative design was used comprising three focus-group interviews with 15 professionals: two groups with ward staff and one with therapists, all working at a family ward for parents with SUD and their children. Data were analysed using thematic analysis., Results: Professionals faced difficulties combining the needs of parents and children and seemed to choose to prioritise either the adult with SUD or the wellbeing of the child. However, some professionals described what might be a third and alternative solution by supporting the mothers in everyday life, routines, and care, through exploring present moment situations. This approach seemed to help parents become more conscious of the child, their interaction with the child, and their own feelings. Professionals described working at the family ward as emotionally challenging., Conclusion: Combining treatment of parental SUD, interventions to improve parenting roles and practice, and at the same time focusing on the developmental needs of children, is experienced as a complex and demanding task. Different priorities and treatment aims may enhance tensions between professionals. Even though professionals experience in-patient dual treatment as challenging, they believe this approach facilitates positive development in substance dependent parents and their children., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2018.)