Failure to Detect Signs of Psychological Distress in the Preschool Children of Alcoholic Parents

Abstract

Due to the finding of higher rates of psychopathology in the school-age childern of alcoholic parents, an increased risk of behavioral disturbances were hypothesized in preschool offspring. Forty-four childern, under the age of six, who were the biological offspring of at least one alcoholic parent, were studied as part of a larger family genetics project of alcoholism. Mothers were interviewed using the Behavioral Screening Questionnaire (BSQ) to assess their preschooler' behavioral and somatic symptomatology as well as adaptive functioning. Despite the high-risk status of these children, parental ratings were not indicative of early signs of overall distree. Higher levels of dependency, attention-seeking behavior and irritability were reported only in the preschool offspring of alcholic parents comorbid for antisocial personality disorder. The potential role of biased parental reports vs. developmental invulnerability is discussed.