Browsing by Subject "lapsen psykiatriset oireet"

ABSTRACT There is evidence that maternal psychopathology is a risk factor for development of psychiatric disorders in the offspring. Unfortunately, many studies have excluded eating disorders even though it's been estimated that 7% of Finnish women suffer from eating disorder during the first 30 years of life. The aim of this review was to examine the impact of maternal eating disorder on children's psychological well-being. Two large cohort studies and multiple smaller studies were examined in this review. Maternal eating disorder was often defined as maternal history of eating disorder either during or before pregnancy. Maternal eating disorder has been associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the offspring. Especially children of mothers with anorexia nervosa are at higher risk of having internalizing problems. In addition, mothers with eating disorders rated their children as having a more difficult temperament. The children of mothers with eating disorders showed delays in neurocognitive development. The identified associations were, however, not simple. What might be important considering the effect of maternal eating disorder on child psychopathology is the type and timing of the maternal eating disorder. More research is needed in order to develop early interventions.