OBJECTIVES :
To estimate the prevalence of psychopathology in children of male patients with
alcohol dependence and assess the family functioning in their families. To assess and
compare the sociodemographic, clinical, substance abuse related factors and family
functioning with and without psychopathology in families of patients with alcohol
dependence.
METHODS :
Patients with ICD-10 diagnosis for Alcohol Dependence Syndrome who have children
between 6-18 years were scored on the Addiction Severity Index. Psychopathology in
their children was assessed using Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). McMaster
Family Assessment Device (MFAD) was used to measure family functioning in their
families.Comparative analysis was done with the Total CBCL clinical and nonclinical
groups with the socio-demographic variables of patient, mother, family and
child, alcohol related variables and family functioning using chi- test for categorical
variables and the student t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables.
Univariate logistic regression was done for variables found to be significant in the
bivariate analysis.
RESULTS :
72 patients and their families were recruited in the study. The mean age of the children
was 11.69 (SD=3.56). The overall prevalence of psychopathology in the children as
assessed by CBCL was 13.9%, with internalising and externalising disorders at 11.1%
and 8.3% respectively. Significant family dysfunction was seen in 65%. Among
sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with child psychopathology, the
presence of psychiatric morbidity in the father and family size were found to be
significant (p value <0.05). The interviewer rated scores of ASI showed significant
association with child psychopathology in Family/social, Psychiatric and
Alcoholdomains (p value <0.5). Problematic family functioning assessed by MFAD
(score ≥2.00) was seen in all 10 cases with child psychopathology and was found to be
statistically significant (χ 2=6.177, d.f=1, p=0.013).In the univariate logistic
regression, mean ASI score for Psychiatric and Family/social domains continued to
show significant association. with odds ratios of 1.35 (95%CI=1.07-1.70) and
1.64(95% CI=1.13-1.28) respectively.
CONCLUSION :
As a final point, it may be concluded that psychopathology is seen in children of
alcoholic patients and it is significantly associated with specific socio-demographic
and substance abuse related factors in families of patients with alcohol dependence. It
can also be said that there is poorer family functioning in families of alcoholic
patients. Subsequently, there is significant family dysfunction in the children with
psychopathology in these families. There is lack of studies in this region on various
factors associated with psychopathology and family functioning in children of
alcoholics. Further longitudinal studies are required in this field