Children of Mentally Ill Parents - A High Risk Population.

The scientific and clinical interest in children with mentally ill parents increased in the last years. Those children belong to a high risk population so that prevention is urgently indicated. Due to genetic influences and partly to an impairment of the parent-child interaction because of the parent's illness there exists a higher risk for child abuse. They show a three to five time increased risk to develop mental problems which require treatment over the course of their lives. They show abnormalities in social, cognitive and emotional areas. Untreated mental disorders and associated behavioral problems in children often chronify and lead to permanent impairment of the emotional, social and also intellectual development. Early detection and treatment are indicated and of high relevance.