Parental psychopathology

Question 1

What percentage of adults aged 16-64 in England have a common mental health disorder (CMD)?

Answer 1

1 in 6 adults

Reference: McManus et al., 2016

Question 2

How has the prevalence of CMD in women changed since 2000?

Answer 2

Increased

Reference: McManus et al., 2016

Question 3

What percentage of women with a mental illness are parents?

Answer 3

68%

Reference: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2014

Question 4

What percentage of men with a mental illness are parents?

Answer 4

57%

Reference: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2014

Question 5

What percentage of UK parents of children aged 0-4 reported struggling with their mental health since becoming a parent?

Answer 5

63%

Reference: UNICEF UK, Early moment matter report, 2024

Question 6

What percentage of women experience perinatal mental health problems during pregnancy and the first year after having a baby?

Answer 6

10-20%

Includes anxiety, depression, PTSD

Question 7

What is the prevalence of severe depressive illness during the perinatal period?

Answer 7

30 per 1,000

Other conditions include adjustment disorders and distress, mild-moderate depressive illness, PTSD, postpartum psychosis, and serious mental ill health

Question 8

What characterizes depression?

Answer 8

Feelings of hopelessness, despair, and lack of motivation

Question 9

Who is at the highest risk of depression demographically?

Answer 9

Young females of childbearing age

Question 10

What is the time frame for post-natal or postpartum depression to occur after birth?

Answer 10

First 4-6 weeks

Question 11

What differentiates post-natal depression from normal perinatal mood changes?

Answer 11

Persistent and marked depressed mood, sadness, irritability, absence of pleasure, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt, and social withdrawal

Question 12

What are some psychosocial factors contributing to post-natal depression?

Answer 12

• Pre-natal depression
• Negative attitudes to pregnancy
• Demands of parenting
• Difficult childbirth
• Lack of social support
• Marital/partner satisfaction
• Abuse or violence

Question 13

What is the biological theory related to post-natal depression?

Answer 13

Vitamin A-related compounds accumulate during pregnancy, linked to cognitive disturbances and mood disorders

Question 14

What is the impact of postpartum depression on infant cognitive development at 15 months?

Answer 14

Lower cognitive and psychomotor development

Reference: Cornish et al., 2005

Question 15

What negative outcomes are associated with maternal postpartum depression?

Answer 15

• Behavioral problems at 2 years
• Negative infant reactivity to new situations
• Difficult temperament
• Lower weight gain and growth faltering

Question 16

What is the prevalence of paternal post-natal depression?

Answer 16

10-12%

Reference: NCT 2025

Question 17

What is a significant risk factor for children if a parent has anxiety?

Answer 17

Children are 5 times more likely to meet criteria for anxiety disorder

Question 18

What characterizes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Answer 18

Persistent, obsessive thoughts or urges and repetitive behaviors or mental acts

Question 19

What is the prevalence of OCD among adults in the UK?

Answer 19

About 1 in 4 adults

Question 20

What factors contribute to anxiety and OCD during the perinatal period?

Answer 20

• Pre-natal anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Lack of social support
• Stressful life events
• Parenting demands

Question 21

What hormonal changes may relate to anxiety and OCD during late pregnancy?

Answer 21

Changes in serotonin, oestrogen, and progesterone

Question 22

What is the relationship between maternal anxiety and child development?

Answer 22

Maternal anxiety predicts child anxiety and affects maternal sensitivity during play

Question 23

What is the main finding of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children regarding antenatal maternal anxiety?

Answer 23

Antenatal maternal anxiety predicts behavioral/emotional problems in children at 4 years

Question 24

What is the prevalence of eating disorders during pregnancy globally?

Answer 24

4.3%

Includes anorexia nervosa (AN) and binge eating disorder (BED)

Question 25

What are some effects of maternal eating disorders on feeding practices?

Answer 25

* Difficulty feeding children * Higher use of scheduled feeding * Emotional unattunement at mealtimes

Question 26

What are some consequences for children living with parents who have mental health problems?

Answer 26

* Educational challenges * Relationship difficulties * Problematic coping strategies

Question 27

What is the foetal programming hypothesis?

Answer 27

Direct effects of maternal stress or anxiety on the developing infant's brain

Question 28

What is the impact of maternal mental health on parenting behaviors?

Answer 28

* Poor parenting predictions * Intrusive or withdrawn caregiving * Less responsive child behavior

Question 29

What is the negative attribution bias in depressed mothers?

Answer 29

More likely to rate negative infant faces as more negative

Question 30

What is the significance of scaffolding in parenting?

Answer 30

Parental support that helps the child move from one developmental level to the next

Question 31

What do children want from interventions to support their parents?

Answer 31

To be involved and have their views taken seriously

Question 32

What has video feedback been successfully used for in mealtime contexts?

Answer 32

To reduce heightened conflict and control ## Footnote Reference: Stein et al., 2006b

Question 33

What do children want in interventions to support their parents?

Answer 33

To be involved and have their views taken seriously ## Footnote Reference: Cooklin, 2013

Question 34

What fears do children have regarding a parent's illness according to Cooklin (2010)?

Answer 34

* They will develop the illness * They will be blamed for the illness * They will face contradictory expectations * They will be bullied/singled out * The ill parent may not be cared for properly * The family may face shame and stigma ## Footnote Reference: Cooklin, 2010

Question 35

What is the Kids Time intervention?

Answer 35

An England-based programme of workshops for children living with a parent with a mental health problem ## Footnote It includes creative activities, drama, and discussions.

Question 36

What age group does the Family Talk intervention target?

Answer 36

Children aged 5-18 years with parents who have mental health diagnoses ## Footnote Focuses on child psychological functioning and family functioning.

Question 37

What do RCTs in Ireland and Finland support regarding the Family Talk intervention?

Answer 37

Its effectiveness and low cost ## Footnote Reference: Furlong et al. 2024 for the Irish RCT.

Question 38

What do genetic-environmental interactions suggest about parenting?

Answer 38

Variation in DNA between parents is associated with differences in parenting ## Footnote Indicates genetic influence along with environmental mechanisms.

Question 39

How do children's characteristics shape the parenting they receive?

Answer 39

Through factors like gender, age, temperament, and disabilities ## Footnote Relationships are bi-directional.

Question 40

What did Anderson et al. (1986) find about parents of antisocial children?

Answer 40

They exhibited increased negativity towards an antisocial child ## Footnote Child's behavior drove the interaction.

Question 41

What are some confounding factors in a child's wider social context?

Answer 41

* Marital discord * Lack of money * Education ## Footnote These factors affect individuals differently.

Question 42

What did Belsky (1997) suggest about irritable children?

Answer 42

They may be more susceptible to parenting influences ## Footnote Other children may not be as strongly impacted.

Question 43

What are some methodological limitations in studying parenting?

Answer 43

* Cross-sectional designs * Lack of longitudinal data * Inaccurate parental reports * Small sample sizes * Focus on maternal psychopathology * Co-morbid pathologies * Publication biases ## Footnote These limitations can affect research outcomes.