Abstract
Background
Much attention has been given to parental separation as a possible risk factor for adverse child development; however, little information is available regarding the family status of children referred to psychiatric facilities.
Aims
To assess the association between psychiatric illness in childhood and family status compared to the background population.
Methods
Data was derived from a national register on children referred to psychiatric facilities in Denmark and a databank containing detailed statistical information on the Danish society.
Results
Regardless of age significantly fewer children with psychiatric illnesses lived with both biological parents as compared to the background population (51.1% vs 73.3%). There were no gender differences. Analyses of the specific diagnoses association with family status revealed only few significant differences.
Conclusions
Psychiatrically ill children are at increased risk of not living with both biological parents independent of age of the child.
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Acknowledgements
We hereby thank the Child- and Adolescent Psychiatric Society in Denmark (BUP-DK) for granting us permission to use their data. We are also grateful for the helpful comments by the two anonymous reviewers.
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Esbjorn, B.H., Levin, E., Hoeyer, M. et al. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Family Status. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17, 484–490 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-0690-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-0690-z