Bipolar disorder, one of the toughest medical conditions to treat according to the World Health Organisation, has some serious impact on children of parents suffering from the disorder.
A latest research by the Concordia University, Canada, shows that parents with bipolar disorder have children who are likely to engage in risky criminal sexual behaviour, commit suicide, self-harm and smoke.
Those with the condition suffer dramatic highs of extreme euphoria, racing thoughts and decreased need for sleep, as well as its overpowering lows of sadness and despair.
Past studies have shown that children of bipolar disorder parents are at higher risk of developing mental disorders.
For the study, researchers examined the psychosocial implications of mentally healthy children of parents with bipolar disorder. The children assessed were aged between 4 and 12. The researchers tracked them till early adulthood. The team looked in to the suicidal behavior, self-harm, smoking, criminal behavior and risky sexual behavior in the respondents.
Researchers found that children were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour. "Risky sexual behaviour falls along the spectrum of general externalizing behaviours, like delinquency and aggression. We know it is predicted by externalizing behaviours in middle childhood," Mark Ellenbogen, a psychology professor at Concordia University and member of Concordia's Centre for Research in Human Development, said in a press release.
"The children of BD patients are at high risk of developing a number of psychiatric and psychosocial problems. We need to think about interventions that will work for all members of the family," Ellenbogen added.
Ellenbogen said that the bipolar disorder parents require additional help in organizing family life, parenting, dealing with spouses and coping with stress. "The ultimate goal is to reduce the levels of stress in the family, which we believe will then reduce negative outcomes in their children."
This study was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canada Research Chairs Program and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
