Prevalence of psychiatric morbidities among children of alcohol-dependent patients – A hospital-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Children of alcoholics (COAs), particularly experience life uniquely in the families of alcoholic parents. They are more likely than others to suffer from various physical, emotional, and mental health problems. Aims: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among the children of alcohol-dependent patients attending our tertiary health care center, and further determine the association between clinical-sociodemographic background and psychiatric morbidities among these children. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study consisting of 100 COAs. Data collections tools used were: Pro forma for sociodemographic details, the Kiddie – Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for school-aged children (6–18 years) Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS PL), Learning Disability Checklist and Wechsler's Intelligence Scale for Children. The data were entered using statistical software Epi-Info (version 3.7.2.1) software package, analyzed using the SPSS software version 24.0. Results: About 60% of COAs assessed had the presence of psychiatric morbidity, with anxiety spectrum and depressive disorders being the most commonly associated diagnosis. It was noted that female gender had a positive association with anxiety spectrum disorders. Further, a history of child abuse had a positive association with evidence of psychiatric morbidity in these children. In addition, family history of antisocial personality traits had a significant association with conduct disorder in COAs. Conclusions: To conclude, psychiatric morbidities were identified in about 60% of children whose fathers were alcohol dependent. These COA's commonly manifested with two major psychiatric morbidities, namely anxiety and depression. Nearly 1/10th of these children were noted to have substance use as well.