Comparison of mental abnormalities in children of mentally ill parents from different points of view: Effects of a manualized family intervention

The central criterion to evaluate the intervention program CHIMPs is the mental health of the participating children. To collect data concerning parents' views of children's mental problems the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18) by Achenbach (1991) was used, from the perspective of the children themselves the Youth Self Report (YSR) was used, and mental impairment from therapists' point of view was measured using the Beeintranchtigungs-Schwere-Score fur Kinder (BSS-K). After the CHIMPs intervention program children's mental problems were reduced according to all three scales of the CBCL from the perspective of the patient (N = 43) and remained stable until follow up. In terms of overall mental abnormalities and internalizing disorders spouses too (n = 37) reported an improvement in the children. The children (N = 17) themselves experienced fewer internalizing disorders. The overall mental impairment was also improved from the perspective of the therapist. The findings serve as evidence for an improvement in the mental health of children of mentally ill parents after the CHIMPs intervention.