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Psychiatric Disorders and Impairment in the Children of Opiate Addicts: Prevalances and Distribution by Ethnicity
Author(s) -
Nunes Edward V.,
Weissman Myrna M.,
Goldstein Rise,
McAvay Gail,
Beckford Carla,
Seracini Angela,
Verdeli Helena,
Wickramaratne Priya
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490050148062
Subject(s) - psychopathology , ethnic group , psychiatry , anxiety , opiate , mood disorders , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , medicine , mood , psychology , receptor , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics
This study examined rates of psychiatric disorders and impairment in 283 children, aged 6 to 17, of 69 Caucasian, 45 African‐American, and 47 Hispanic‐American methadone maintenance patients. Children were evaluated by direct and/or parental interview with the K‐SA DS‐E. Final DSM‐III‐R diagnoses and Global Assessment Scale (C‐GAS) were assigned by best estimate. Substantial lifetime prevalences of mood (21%), anxiety (24%) and disruptive disorders (30%), school problems (37%), and global impairment (C‐GAS < 61) (25%) were observed in the children of opiate‐dependent patients. There were few differences between ethnic groups. Effects of proband gender and major depression and their interactions with ethnicity on risk for childhood psychopathology were also examined. The results suggest children of patients in treatment for opiate dependence from diverse ethnic groups are at risk for psychopathology. Programs for early detection and intervention should be devised and evaluated.