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References

Murphy, G., Peters, K., Wilkes, L., & Jackson, D. (2014). A Dynamic Cycle of Familial Mental Illness. Issues In Mental Health Nursing, 35(12), 948-953. doi:10.3109/01612840.2014.927543

Looking in the abstract of Murphy, Peters, Wilkes, and Jackson’s research paper, it becomes clear why the authors researched this topic. The thesis they are trying to support is the claim that “a family approach to mental health assessment and treatment in the mainstream health and social care sectors” should be taken versus an individualistic approach. The research they conducted concluded that a child’s emotional distance from a parent decreases when the parent is diagnosed with a mental illness. This in turn increases the parent’s distress. The authors state, “there is a consensus within the literature that community stigmas surrounding mental illness can be unhelpful to children [that have parents with mental illnesses]”(p. 1). The authors determine that recovery for patients with mental illness is based on the “degree” of hope they have for their future.

The authors’ study is actually presented in a flow-chart-style graph that follows the symptoms (that are on top of the symptoms of the diagnosed mental illness) occurring after parents have been diagnosed. It also lists some experiences that children have because of living with a parent with a mental illness. This includes: acute understanding of parent’s diagnosed mental illness, a stigma to keep the illness hidden in the family, over vigilance of recognizing symptoms in themselves, parentification*, increased anxiety, etc. Looking in the text, it seems that the distress caused in the parent is caused by all of these behavioral changes in his or her child(ren), but mainly parentification because parentification in combination with a few other behavioral changes makes “parents believe they have become or are becoming disenfranchised from their parenting role of children”(p. 2).

Overall this study concludes that mental health in the parent should be approached and treated along with the immediate family as to reduce feelings of isolation in children and ultimately reduce treatment time and symptoms of mental illness in the patient(parent).

*the swapping of roles between parent and child.

The authors’ study is actually presented in a flow-chart-style graph that follows the symptoms (that are on top of the symptoms of the diagnosed mental illness) occurring after parents have been diagnosed. It also lists some experiences that children have because of living with a parent with a mental illness. This includes: acute understanding of parent’s diagnosed mental illness, a stigma to keep the illness hidden in the family, over vigilance of recognizing symptoms in themselves, parentification*, increased anxiety, etc. Looking in the text, it seems that the distress caused in the parent is caused by all of these behavioral changes in his or her child(ren), but mainly parentification because parentification in combination with a few other behavioral changes makes “parents believe they have become or are becoming disenfranchised from their parenting role of children”(p. 2).

Overall this study concludes that mental health in the parent should be approached and treated along with the immediate family as to reduce feelings of isolation in children and ultimately reduce treatment time and symptoms of mental illness in the patient(parent).

*the swapping of roles between parent and child.