Parents with PTSD and their Children

Refugees are prone to developing psychiatric disorders like PTSD because of the hazardous journeys they have to make. Even though this condition influences their mental health it might also affect the mental state of their children. Because of this correlation, the researchers from Copenhagen want to test the hypothesis.

The researchers show that children of refugees with PTSD have a bigger chance to develop a mental disorder. Furthermore, if both parents have PTSD the child is 75% more likely to use the psychiatric system. On the other hand, if the father suffers from the disorder the child is 49% more likely to use the system. Finally, if the mother has PTSD then the child is 55% more likely to develop a condition.

In addition to this, the researchers consider if the country of birth affects this percentage. When they look at the findings, they see no increase in correlation. That is, children of refugees born in Denmark and those borne abroad suffered equally because of their parents’ mental disorder.