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Psychopathology and relationship measures in children with inflammatory bowel disease and their parents

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Abstract

Children with inflammatory bowel disease and their parents were assessed for DMS-III diagnoses, maternal attachment, marital relationship, life stresses, illness severity and cognitive/affective profile. Eleven of 15 children and 21 of 27 parents had psychiatric diagnoses. Three children were suicidal. Thirteen of 15 mothers had insecure attachment. Marital difficulties and medical severity correlated with life stress. The higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders than epidemiologically and of insecure attachment suggest at-risk relationships.

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Szajnberg, N., Krall, V., Davis, P. et al. Psychopathology and relationship measures in children with inflammatory bowel disease and their parents. Child Psych Hum Dev 23, 215–232 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707151

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