[Emotional disorders in the mothers of children treated at a mental health center].

The aim of this research has been the detection of possible psychiatric disorders in the mothers of referred children. Also, we investigated the family history and its dynamic aspects. It was carried out from February to June of 1988. The sample is made up of 43 children (3-16 years old). Each of the mothers filled out the GHQ-28. Other variables studied were the epidemiologic ones, parental age, the DSM-III diagnostics and the severity of the pathology found in the children through the CGAS. We found that the mothers tended to be pathologic in the GHQ values; 17 children (40%) had familial antecedents and abnormal family dynamics; 11 children (26%) had a mother with a pathologic GHQ and abnormal family dynamics and psychiatric antecedents. It was suggested that these 3 factors may have a predictive value for the DSM-III-specific diagnosis different from the Code V diagnosis, that is, predictive of more severe psychopathology.