Towards understanding the child’s experience in the process of parentification: young adults’ reflections on growing up with a depressed parent

This article reports on a qualitative study with 21 young adults who grew up with a depressed parent. We examined how young adults make sense of their childhood experiences of parental depression and how their retrospective reflections help us to understand the experiences of children and the processes of parentification. Participants recounted that their childhood consisted mainly of actions in the service of family well-being. At that time, they reflected on their own experiences only rarely. In adolescence, there was an evolution toward a greater consideration for oneself and a repositioning within the family. In the discussion, we explore the therapeutic implications of this studyand in particularthe meaningfulness of silence in the family process of parentification

Doodswens op latere leeftijd. Een exploratieve studie naar leeftijds- specifieke psychologische factoren die een rol spelen bij een doodswens en suïcidale gedachten en gedragingen bij ouderen

This PhD-project aims to develop a multivariate model of suicidality inthe elderly which integrates psychiatric, psychological and age-specific factors (Promoter: Prof. Dr. Koen Demyttenaere; Co-promoter: Prof. Dr.Ajit Shah). A theory of categorization of different manifestations of suicidality, based on in-depth interviews with patients expressing suicidality, will be induced in a qualitative pilot phase. This theory and thehypothesis that different categories of suicidality can be linked to a different composition of psychiatric, psychological and age-specific factors (based on the data derived from the qualitative research) will be tested in a quantative way in a second phase of the project.status: publishe

The individual and societal effects of non-psychotic serious mental disorders on earnings in Belgium

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between non-psychotic serious mental disorders and earnings in the general population of Belgium on both the individual- and society-level. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data stem from a cross-sectional population study of the non-institutionalized adult (between 18 and 64) population from Belgium (N=863). The third version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-3.0) was administered to assess 12-month non-psychotic serious mental disorders and annual earnings. Multivariate approaches were used to estimate the observed and estimated annual earnings for persons with serious mental disorders, controlling for sociodemographic variables and alcohol disorders. RESULTS: On the individual-level, 12-month serious mental disorders significantly predicted the probability of having any earnings (OR=0.32; 95%CI=0.14-0.74). Respondents with serious mental disorders had 12-month earnings of 5,969 Euro less than expected in the absence of serious mental disorders. Taking into account the prevalence of serious mental disorders (i.e. 4.9%), the society-level effects of serious mental disorders in 2002 can be estimated at about 1,797 million Euro per year for the Belgian general population. DISCUSSION: Non-psychotic serious mental disorders had considerable impact on annual earnings. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Belgium that addresses the association between mental illness and earnings. Serious mental disorders are associated with individual- and societal-level impairments and loss of human capital.status: publishe

Experiences psychotiques dans la population generale

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Lifetime risk and age-of-onset of mental disorders in the Belgian general population

AIMS: To estimate lifetime risk and age of onset of mental disorders in the adult general population of Belgium. METHOD AND MATERIALS: For the World Mental Health Surveys of the World Health Organization, a representative random sample of non-institutionalized inhabitants from Belgium aged 18 or older (n = 2419) were interviewed between April 2001 and June 2002. The interview took place by means of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, version 3.0. Lifetime prevalence, projected lifetime risk, and age-of-onset of mental disorders were assessed. RESULTS: Lifetime risk for any mental disorder was 37.1%: 22.8% for mood disorders, 15.7% for anxiety disorders, and 10.8% for alcohol disorders. Median age of onset was 38 years for mood, 14 years for anxiety, and 23 years for alcohol disorders. Prevalence estimates of mood and alcohol disorders were significantly higher in the cohorts between 18 and 34 years. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that assessed projected lifetime risk and age of onset of mental disorders in the Belgian general population. About one-third of the Belgian non-institutionalized adult population will meet the criteria for a DSM-IV mental disorder at some time during their life. Median age of onset varies from disorder to disorder and younger cohorts had higher likelihood for developing mental disorders.status: publishe

ADHD in de Belgische volwassen bevolking; een epidemiologische exploratieve studie

Despite growing interest in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) in adults in Belgium, little is known about its prevalence in the Belgian general population. AIM: To estimate the prevalence of ADHD in adults (aged 18 to 44) in Belgium, to study its comorbidity with other mental disorders and its impact on daily living and to find out the extent to which professional help is sought. METHOD: A representative sample (n = 486) taken from the Belgian population was studied by means of an ADHD screening questionnaire which is included in the third version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of ADHD in adults in the Belgian population was estimated to be 4.1%. The disorder started in early childhood (median age 7 years) and developed fastest between the ages of 7 and 9. ADHD was comorbid with anxiety disorders (adjusted odds ratio: 7.5; 95% ci: 1.2-45.2) and alcohol-related disorders (adjusted odds ratio: 7.6; 95% ci: 1.1-52.5), and results in a suboptimal daily functioning on about 7.7 days a month. Only one person in five had sought professional help in the 12 month period prior to the screening test. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to estimate the prevalence of ADHD in adults in Belgium. ADHD is a relatively frequent disorder that starts early in life, and has a considerable impact on the way in which an individual functions in daily life. In spite of this, few persons with this disorder seek professional help.status: publishe

Examination of the population attributable risk of different risk factor domains for suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Despite the fact that suicide is an important public health problem, the etiology is still not well understood. Especially lacking is a societal-level approach that takes into account the extent to which several risk factor domains are attributable to new onset of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB).publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Examination of the population attributable risk of different risk factor domains for suicidal thoughts and behaviors journaltitle: Journal of Affective Disorders articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.07.042 content_type: article copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.status: publishe