CHIMPS study: Family counseling for mentally ill or addicted parents and their children
Families wanted: A study is investigating how the families of mentally ill or addicted parents can be supported in improving their mental health and quality of life
The Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics in Childhood and Adolescence at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is currently participating in a study on the medical care of children and adolescents with mentally ill or addicted parents. The aim of the study, called CHIMPS: children of mentally ill parents, is to improve the mental health and quality of life of families with mentally ill parents. In addition, the counseling is intended to support the families in coping with the illness and strengthen the relationships within the family as well as the families' social network. The study is aimed at families with at least one mentally ill parent and at least one child between the ages of three and 18. Twenty clinics across Germany are participating in the study, which is being led by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.
"In the past, the needs of children and adolescents of parents with a mental or addictive disorder have often been overlooked. This urgently needs to change and this study can provide an important impetus for this," says Prof. Dr. Christian Fleischhaker, Acting Medical Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.
Procedure of the study
When participating in the study, the families receive a detailed diagnosis and indication at the beginning and are assigned to one of three groups according to the degree of individual stress. Based on this allocation, randomly selected families then receive either prevention, a multifamily group intervention or a specific family-oriented brief therapy in three to eight sessions each. The interventions are carried out by psychologists or psychotherapists.
Families who are not selected for the intervention are referred to the appropriate routine care. Alternatively, young people also have the option of participating in an online-based intervention (i-CHIMPS). The mental state of the children and adolescents will be assessed before and after the intervention, as well as some time after the end of therapy.
Who is the study suitable for?
The study is aimed at families with at least one parent with a mental illness (prior psychiatric diagnosis required) and at least one child between the ages of three and 18. Single parents can also take part. The children should live in the parent's household or have regular contact (at least every 14 days) with the parent who is ill. Participation is possible regardless of health insurance affiliation. Families receive an expense allowance of 50 euros. Participants are expected to be sought until the beginning of 2022.
Contact for those interested in participating in the study:
Benjamin Krautheim
Psychologist
Clinical Research
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Uniklinik Freiburg
Phone: 0174 347 3801
benjamin.krautheim@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Contact for the press:
Prof. Dr. Christian Fleischhaker
Comm. Medical Director
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270 65 550
Christian.fleischhaker@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Back
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Central Information
Phone: 0761 270-0
info@uniklinik-freiburg.de
For press inquiries:
Corporate Communications
Breisacher Straße 153
79110 Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-84830
kommunikation@uniklinik-freiburg.de