Mental Health Status Of Children Research Articles

Use of EMDR-Derived Self-Help Intervention in Children in the Period of COVID-19: A Randomized-Controlled Study

Self-help treatments are an important intervention tool, with high accessibility and ease of application. To our knowledge, no research has previously been conducted on any self-help intervention derived from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. In this study, we evaluated the mental health status of children not directly affected by the pandemic and investigated the effects of using an EMDR-derived self-help intervention in children as a low-intensity treatment. The mental health status of 178 children was evaluated online via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and Childhood Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI). Then, children were randomly assigned to intervention and waitlist. A booklet containing EMDR-derived techniques was sent via the school online portal and the intervention was conducted. Posttests were administered 4 weeks later. The attrition rate was 45.5%, with 97 children completing the trial (intervention: 52; waitlist: 45). At baseline, 76.4% of children showed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) above threshold. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in the posttest PTSS scores for the intervention group compared to waitlist. The intervention group had significant pre–post improvement on all but one subscale, while the waitlist group showed a significant increase in state anxiety on the STAIC. In conclusion, posttraumatic stress was found to be high in children during the COVID-19 outbreak period, and EMDR-derived self-help intervention appeared to be an effective psychosocial intervention tool.

Sigh syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic: Is it a signal of the mental health status of Chinese children and adolescents?

BackgroundSince the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese children and adolescents have been greatly affected by the strict social isolation policies, which will undoubtedly cause psychological problems. We aimed to investigate the mental health status of Chinese children and adolescents, and provided some considerations of the contributing factors and the coping strategy.MethodWe investigated the disease composition ratio of sigh syndrome in the pediatric outpatient clinic in Chengdu after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreak mitigation. We also analyzed and compared the annual changing trends in the incidence of sigh syndrome in 2020 with those from previous years.ResultsThe composition ratio of sigh syndrome increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The highest incidence was in March 2020, which then decreased gradually over the next few months, then increased again in June 2020 (P<0.05). And the 4–7 years old was the age group with a high incidence of sigh syndrome, and 5 years old had the highest incidence.ConclusionsThe mental health status of children and adolescents changed significantly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We should also pay attention to the psychological problems caused by returning to school after the epidemic has eased.

Responsibility inoculation: Constructing ‘good parent’ accounts when accessing child mental health services

With the prevalence of child mental health conditions rising, the role of the initial mental health assessment is crucial in determining need. Utilising a critical discursive analytic framework, we explored the ways in which parents during these mental health assessments constructed the child’s difficulties as medicalised and doctorable as opposed to systemic and familial. Through this discursive positioning, we examined the ways in which parents mitigated blame and accounted for the child’s behaviours and emotions. Parents engaged in three accounting practices to construct the child’s problems as dispositional and to mitigate against an alternative familial system interpretation. First, they drew upon normative cultural repertoires of parenting. Second, they mediated ways whereby normative practices were deviated from in the best interest of the child. Third, they rhetorically positioned overcoming systemic difficulties by illustrating cooperative parenting in separated families. Our findings have implications for how parents build a case for the need for medical intervention in assessment settings.

Longitudinal Trends of Participation in Relation to Mental Health in Children with and without Physical Difficulties.

Children with physical disabilities (PD) are known to have participation restrictions when in inclusive settings alongside typically developing (TD) children. The restrictions in participation over time may affect their mental health status. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between independence in activities (capability) and frequency of attendance in activities, in relation to perceived mental health status in children with and without PD. The participants were a convenience sample of parents of 77 school children with PD and 94 TD children who completed four assessments with a one-year interval between each assessment. Parents of these children were interviewed with the Functioning Scale of the Disability Evaluation System—Child version (FUNDES-Child). Three dimensions of mental health problems—loneliness, acting upset, and acting nervous—were rated by parents with the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Linear trend was tested by repeated-measure ANOVA. The results revealed different longitudinal patterns of independence and frequency of attendance over time for children with PD and TD. Frequency of attending activities may be more important than independence in performing activities for experiencing fewer mental health problems. The findings highlight the need for supporting children’s actual attendance in daily activities which may benefit their later mental health.

\u201cI feel good when I drink\u201d\u2014detecting childhood-onset alcohol abuse and dependence in a Ugandan community trial cohort

BackgroundAlcohol, substance use, and mental health disorders constitute major public health issues worldwide, including in low income and lower middle-income countries, and early initiation of use is an important predictor for developing substance use disorders in later life. This study reports on the existence of childhood alcohol abuse and dependence in a sub-study of a trial cohort in Eastern Uganda.MethodsThe project SeeTheChild—Mental Child Health in Uganda (STC) included a sub-study of the Ugandan site of the study PROMISE SB: Saving Brains in Uganda and Burkina Faso. PROMISE SB was a follow-up study of a trial birth cohort (PROMISE EBF) that estimated the effect that peer counselling for exclusive breast-feeding had on the children’s cognitive functioning and mental health once they reached 5–8 years of age. The STC sub-study (N = 148) used the diagnostic tool MINI-KID to assess mental health conditions in children who scored medium and high (≥ 14) on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in the PROMISE SB cohort N = (119/148; 80.4%). Another 29/148 (19.6%) were recruited from the PROMISE SB cohort as a comparator with low SDQ scores (< 14). Additionally, the open-ended questions in the diagnostic history were analysed. The MINI-KID comprised diagnostic questions on alcohol abuse and dependence, and descriptive data from the sub-study are presented in this paper.ResultsA total of 11/148 (7.4%) children scored positive for alcohol abuse and dependence in this study, 10 of whom had high SDQ scores (≥ 14). The 10 children with SDQ-scores ≥ 14 had a variety of mental health comorbidities of which suicidality 3/10 (30.0%) and separation anxiety disorder 5/10 (50.0%) were the most common. The one child with an SDQ score below 14 did not have any comorbidities. Access to homemade brew, carer’s knowledge of the drinking, and difficult household circumstances were issues expressed in the children’s diagnostic histories.ConclusionsThe discovery of alcohol abuse and dependence among 5–8 year olds in clinical interviews from a community based trial cohort was unexpected, and we recommend continued research and increased awareness of these conditions in this age group.Trial registration Trial registration for PROMISE SB: Saving Brains in Uganda and Burkina Faso: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01882335), 20 June 2013. Regrettably, there was a 1 month delay in the registration compared to the commenced re-inclusion in the follow-up study: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01882335?term=saving+brains&draw=2&rank=1

Emotional and Behavioural disorders in a cohort with Down syndrome using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A pilot study

BackgroundGlobally, mental health disorders and behavioural problems afflict persons with Down syndrome (DS) with a high prevalence reported in some studies. However, data on behavioural and emotional disorders in DS cohort in Asian countries are lacking. AimsTo assess the mental health status of children and adults with DS, using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and its impact on caregivers using the impact supplement. MethodsThe questionnaires were administered to caregivers of eligible participants aged ≥4 years. In addition, Down syndrome participant's ≥ 11 years old attempted the self-report. Scoring was done as per standard SDQ guidelines. ResultsThe total difficulties score was observed to be at least borderline high in 30.6% (19/62) of the participants. Peer relationships and conduct subscale issues were rated high, with abnormal internalizing scores predominating over externalizing scores. From parents' perspective, behavioural issues impacted 41.9% (26/62) of participants' in areas of education, peer relationship and leisure. However, only 3.8% (1/26) of the caregivers whose children had behavioural issues perceived them as a burden. ConclusionsMental health difficulties are a significant morbidity in our DS cohort. SDQ is a useful user-friendly tool for identification of behavioural problems enabling timely referral for intervention and therapy.

Overview on Children Mental Health Status during Coronavirus Disease: Expressing How to Support

Background: Coronavirus pandemic puts children in a more critical mental status compared to adults. Some symptoms of children’s mental disorders include extreme dependence, anxiety, fear, anger, and impatience. The present study aimed to review the studies, which have investigated the effects of coronavirus and its consequences on mental health, particularly the children, and provide some effective strategies to support them. Materials and Methods: In this overview, two researchers carried out the present study after comprehensive research according to the latest articles in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar until March 27 2020. Results: Ten studies examined were conducted on the children mental health status (the symptoms of depression (22.6%), anxiety (18.9%), and the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) (30%)) as well as irritability, anger, emotional discharge and other symptoms, such as sleep disorders, nightmares, nocturnal enuresis, eating disorders, the sense of loneliness, the fear of illness and loss of parents or caregivers, understanding the physical signs of the disease in children under quarantine, news of outbreaks and school closures. This review reports that the symptoms of fear and anxiety in children of12-17 years old are higher compared to adults. Conclusion: To reduce the negative psychological effects on the children arisen from coronavirus crisis, despite the recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), some strategies are significantly important including physiological counseling for parents and children, access to the mental health services, and paying more attention to the children exposed to risk.

An investigation of mental health status of children and adolescents in china during the outbreak of COVID-19

The sudden outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a dramatic effect on the mental health of the public. In the present study, we demonstrated the psychological effects on children and adolescents associated with the epidemic . By using convenience sampling method, questionnaires, such as Spence Child Anxiety Scale, Child Depression Inventory and Coping style Scale, were distributed to participating 359 children and 3254 adolescents online. The anxiety levels of children and adolescents were (23.87 ± 15.79) and (29.27 ± 19.79), respectively. 22.28% respondents were suffering from depressive symptoms. Seven significant factors associated with increased levels of anxiety, including female, resident in urban regions, emotion-focused coping style. Nine factors associated with increased levels of depression, such as smartphone addiction (OR 1.411, 95% CI 1.099-1.180), Internet addiction (OR 1.844, 95% CI 1.209-2.811), and resident in Hubei province (OR 3.107, 95% CI 1.252-7.708). Two additional factors associated with decreased levels of depressive symptoms: hours spend on Internet per day before the epidemic (OR 0.652, 95% CI 0.609-0.697) and tendency to apply problem-focused coping style (OR 0.937, 95% CI 0.923-0.951). Our findings indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant psychosocial impact on children and adolescents. Findings of current levels of anxiety and depression not only highlight the need to address emotional distress for children and adolescents during the epidemic but also provide researchers with scientific fundamentals to formulate targeted interventions based on the significant influencing factors.

Associations between parent-reported family economic hardship and mental health conditions in U.S. children

This study examines the association between parent-reported family economic hardship (FEH) and child mental health conditions. We hypothesized a positive association between parent perceptions of F...

Influence of Self-Esteem and Psychiatric Diagnosis on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with School Refusal Behavior.

BackgroundSchool refusal behavior (SRB), which is the refusal to attend or remain in school, has been associated with emotional, psychological, and other behavioral problems, as well as a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, the effects of self-esteem and a psychiatric diagnosis in students with SRB on HRQOL are not yet known. Understanding these relationships could help to develop more effective therapeutic interventions.MethodsA total of 175 young people (aged 8–18 years old) who visited our medical centers and outpatient clinics participated in the study. This comprised the SRB group (n = 70) and an age- and sex-matched control group (n = 105). Information about any psychiatric diagnosis was collected from medical records, HRQOL was measured using the J-KIDSCREEN-52, SRB was assessed using the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised for Japanese Attendance at School, self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, children’s mental health status was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and social support was measured using the Oslo 3-item Social Support Scale. We performed between-group comparisons and multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe SRB had a significantly lower HRQOL than the control group in several of the KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions. In the SRB group, 35.7% had chronic disease and 35.7% of their parents had health problems and were receiving treatment. The multiple regression analysis revealed that, within the SRB group, a psychiatric diagnosis was associated with a lower HRQOL. However, this was not the case for a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder. Self-esteem positively affected HRQOL in six dimensions of the KIDSCREEN-52 within the SRB group.ConclusionOur results could inform the development of support strategies for young people with SRB. Namely, support that enhances self-esteem could be used to increase HRQOL in young people with SRB. Furthermore, the presence of psychiatric disorders should be assessed as early as possible.

Теоретические и практические подходы к организации психопрофилактической работы с детским населением первых лет жизни

The growing prevalence of diagnosed mental health conditions in children is currently reported. Morbidity structure has changed over the last two decades as autism spectrum disorders including debilitating ones have come to the fore. Epidemiological study outcomes demonstrate an increased risk of mental disorders as compared with good mental health. Psychogenic factors are of crucial importance for the development of certain mental health conditions in children. Among them, the development of mother-child dyad is particularly important. This article reviews fundamental articles by domestic authors and describes in detail the development of optimal psychological component of gestational dominance that prepares a woman for maternity being one of the top priorities of early psychoprophylaxis. Toddlers who are at higher risk for mental disorders are categorized into groups depending on contributing factors, i.e., children with residual cerebral abnormalities due to the organic lesion of the central nervous system, children with manifestations of schizotypic diathesis or other genetic disorders, and deprived children. Major principles of the organization of primary, secondary, and corrective psychopreventive care in children are addressed. Specialized services for early psychopreventive care to support mental health and to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders and the severity of deprivation disorders in children are required. The paper also highlights the need for reopening of psychological medical social centers and harmonizing preschool and school education through the disaggregation of groups and classes. Finally, the authors declare that inclusive education is unreasonable.Keywords: mental disorders, early childhood, risk group, deprivation, schizotypic diathesis, psychoprophylaxis.For citation: Kozlovskaya G.V., Kremneva L.F., Kalinina M.A., Ivanov M.V. Theoretical and practical approaches to the organization of psychopreventive care in early childhood. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2020;3(2):126–131. DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2020-3-2-126-131.

The mental health status of children who have been evacuated or migrated from rural areas in Fukushima prefecture after the Fukushima daiichi nuclear power station accident:results from the Fukushima health management survey.

Introduction: We evaluated the mental health status of children residing in Kawauchi village (Kawauchi), Fukushima Prefecture, after the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, based on the children’s experience of the nuclear disaster. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study within the framework of the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS); FHMS data on age, sex, exercise habits, sleeping times, experience of the nuclear disaster, and the “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)” scores for 156 children from Kawauchi in 2012 were collected. Groups with and without experience of the nuclear disaster — “nuclear disaster (+)” and “nuclear disaster (−)” — were also compared. Results: Our effective response was 93 (59.6%); the mean SDQ score was 11.4±6.8 among elementary school-aged participants and 12.4±6.8 among junior high school-aged ones. We statistically compared the Total Difficulties Scores (TDS) and sub-item scores of the SDQ between “elementary school” and “junior high school” or “nuclear disaster” (+) and (−). There was no significant difference between these items. Conclusions: We found indications of poor mental health among elementary and junior high school-aged children in the disaster area immediately following the accident, but no differences based on their experience of the nuclear disaster. These results indicate the possibility of triggering stress, separate to that from experiences related to the nuclear disaster, in children who lived in affected rural areas and were evacuated just after the nuclear disaster.

The Role of Quality ECE in Facilitating Mental Health and Well-Being in Children

This article explores trends and statistics specific to the mental health status of children from both the Canadian and the global contexts to inform a conversation on the environmental conditions and experiences that impact the mental health of young children. The research described here focused on the intersection between mental health and early child education (ECE), along with the educational and professional development experiences of early childhood educators, in an attempt to identify mitigating factors that can ensure social-emotional development in children. The article argues that while ECE can help the social-emotional development of young children, there needs to be a focus on ensuring quality of experience with explicit social-emotional learning outcomes, delivered by highly educated professionals. It concludes with a call to focus on the mental health of young children, early child educators, and the critical importance of healthy relationships in the lives of these children.

A qualitative study on teachers' perceptions of their learners' mental health problems in a disadvantaged community in South Africa.

BackgroundThe combination of extensive poverty, violence and HIV has potential mental health impacts on children in Southern Africa. This article is nested in a broader study to evaluate the strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) among Sotho speakers, and assess the mental health status of children made orphans by AIDS.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to describe the mental health problems that the teachers perceive among learners in their classrooms, to understand what the teachers saw as causing these problems and to identify potential approaches to address these problems within the school setting.MethodAs part of the larger study, 10 teachers were purposively selected to write a report describing the mental health problems among learners in their class. These findings were discussed at two later meetings with a larger grouping of teachers to validate the findings and obtain additional input.ResultsThe teachers were concerned about the emotional state of their pupils, especially in relation to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, scholastic problems and aggression. These problems were felt to arise from the children’s lived context; factors such as poverty, death of parents and caregivers from AIDS and trauma, parental substance abuse and child abuse. The teachers expressed a desire to assist the affected learners, but complained that they did not get support from the state services.ConclusionMany learners were evaluated by teachers as struggling with mental health issues, arising from their social context. The teachers felt that with support, schools could provide assistance to these learners.

Father Involvement in Education Predicates the Mental Health Status of Chinese Primary School Students

Previous studies have shown that quality and the quantity of father involvement in education play an important rolein children’s development. The influence of father involvement in education on Chinese children's mental healthstatus still needs further study. To understand the present situation of father involvement in education and its impacton children's mental health, this study will concentrate on the impact of father involvement on the mental healthstatus of primary school students, This study surveyed 1669 primary school students in Yancheng, China. It waspointed out that 45.1% of fathers were not active in children's education, and 25.8% of fathers have not beensufficient time to accompany their children. Children's sex and grade were not associated with father involvement ineducation, which was linked to their father's occupation and education level. Father involvement dramaticallyaffected primary school students' sensitive tendency and impulsive tendency. Father involvement can make childrenmore optimistic and less focus on trifles and suspicious. More father involvement in education leads to better mentalhealth status. These results suggest the importance of increasing father involvement in education in promoting mentalhealth status in primary school students.

Military Life Stressors, Family Communication and Satisfaction: Associations with Children's Psychosocial Outcomes.

Families experience multiple stressors as a result of military service. The purpose of this study was to examine facets of military life and family factors that may impact child psychosocial and mental health functioning. Using baseline data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, this study examined family demographics and composition (age, number of children), military life stressors (injury, family, and deployment stressors), family communication and satisfaction as assessed by the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-IV, parental social functioning assessed via the Short Form Health Survey-36, and child mental health and behavioral functioning (parental reports of clinician-diagnosed mental health conditions such as depression) and an adapted version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Injury- and family-related military stressors were significant indicators of heightened risk for child mental health conditions, whereas greater levels of parental social functioning and family satisfaction were associated with lower risk of child mental health conditions. Differential associations were found in child functioning when military-related variables (e.g., service component), sociodemographic, and family composition factors (number and age of the children in the home) were examined. These findings underscore the importance of examining the "whole child" within the broader ecological and military family context to understand factors associated with children's mental and behavioral health. The results from the present study highlight the complex relationships that may be at play, which, in turn, have considerable implications for the development of policies to support children and families encountering multiple stressors related to a parent's military service.

Maternal and child health after injuries: a two-year follow-up of a nationally representative sample

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the association between childhood injury and health outcomes among survivors and their mothers using a national survey in the United States (US). Study designThis was a longitudinal analysis of a nationally representative sample. MethodsSecondary analysis of the 1997–2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was performed. Children (aged 2–18 years) with or without injuries were followed up for two years. Injuries captured in the study were those associated with at least one hospitalization, emergency department visit, or office-based visit. Outcome measures were child and maternal general and mental health status. Multiple mixed-logistic regressions were used with suboptimal health defined as the response of poor or fair health versus good, very good, or excellent health. ResultsOf the 63,422 children analyzed, 3251 (4.9%) were injured, representing 3.6 million US children. Injured children were more likely to be male, white, and older than those without injuries (P < 0.01). About a fifth of injured children suffered head injuries. Injuries were strongly associated with suboptimal general and mental health status in children (adjusted odds ratios [AORs], 1.35 and 1.36, respectively, P < 0.05). Mothers of children with injuries were also more likely to report suboptimal mental health (AOR, 1.30, P < 0.05). ConclusionInjuries among children are associated with lasting adverse effects in general and mental health. To improve health outcomes of pediatric injuries, further follow-up care may be needed to ensure that they return to pre-injury health levels. These results highlight the importance of primary prevention and the long-term impact of injuries on the health of children and their mothers.

Association of Physical Activity and Screen Time with Psychiatric Distress in Children and Adolescents: CASPIAN-IV Study

There are limited studies about the association of physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) with psychiatric distress (PD) among children and adolescents including Iranian populations. We aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of PA and ST with PD among children and adolescents. This school-based nationwide survey was carried out among 14880 students (50.8% boys and 75.6% urban inhabitants), of age 6-18 years by cluster and the stratified multistage sampling method from 30 provinces of Iran. The students and their parents completed two sets of questionnaires obtained from Global School Health Survey with several questions about the PD. The time spent on watching TV/video and computer games and PA were assessed by self-administered validated questionnaires. The study had a participation rate of 90.6%. Of the studied students, 45.85%, 83.62%, 37.81% and 23.92% had depression, anger, insomnia and worthlessness, respectively. The prevalence of confusion, anxiety and worry was reported in 19.6%, 55.17% and 75.31% of the students, respectively. The combined effect of PA and that of ST showed that students with high PA and low ST had the lowest prevalence of PD, while the highest prevalence of these PD was observed among students with low PA combined with high ST (p < 0.05 for all). Increasing PA and reducing ST should both be considered for improving the mental health status of children and adolescents.

Outcomes of a Statewide Learning Collaborative to Implement Mental Health Services in Pediatric Primary Care.

Mental health concerns are common in pediatric primary care, but practitioners report low levels of comfort managing them. A primary care intervention addressing organizational and individual factors was developed to improve the management of common mental health conditions. Twenty-nine practices participated in a statewide learning collaborative over 18 months. On-site training was used to teach communication and brief intervention skills and develop an organizational context supportive of mental health. Clinician confidence was measured pre- and postintervention. Medicaid claims data were used to estimate the intervention's effects on identification of mental health conditions and prescribing practices. Mean clinician confidence scores increased by 20% (95% confidence interval [CI]=15% to 25%), from 2.92 at baseline to 3.55 postintervention. In the first month of the preintervention year, 6.65% of patients with an office visit had at least one visit for a mental health condition, rising to 9% postintervention; this trend was driven by detection and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Rates of prescribing ADHD medication to patients with visits for ADHD increased by 0.12 percentage points per month (CI=0.02 to 0.22, p=0.022). Rates of prescribing second-generation antipsychotics to all patients with office visits decreased by 0.014 percentage points per month (CI=-.03 to -.00, p=0.028), relative to preintervention trends. This study suggests that a multicomponent intervention addressing individual staff and organizational factors together can promote identification and treatment of child mental health conditions in primary care. Future research is required to better understand the core components, impact on health outcomes, and sustainability.

Mental health among children of mothers with multiple sclerosis: A Danish cohort and register-based study.

BackgroundMultiple sclerosis is associated with an increased risk of developing physical, cognitive, and mental health problems. Current studies have demonstrated variating outcomes of parental multiple sclerosis mental health problems and their children's mental health development.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate whether maternal multiple sclerosis is associated with the mental health status of their child.MethodsData from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) were merged with information from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry. Two proxies, total difficulties score and prediction of any psychiatric diagnosis based on the strengths and difficulties questionnaire, were used to measure the mental health status of the children. The two groups were compared using Mann–Whitney and logistic regression analyses.ResultsFor the total difficulties score the control and exposed group consisted of respectively n = 42,016 and n = 40, and for the prediction of any psychiatric diagnosis respectively n = 16,829 and n = 17. We found no statistically significant association between maternal multiple sclerosis and mental health status on neither of the proxies.ConclusionMaternal multiple sclerosis did not show any association with the mental health status of their children at age eleven. On the contrary, other studies conclude that there is an association between maternal multiple sclerosis and the child's mental health status, one especially mediated by the maternal mental health status.