FIGLIE, N. et al. Filhos de dependentes químicos com fatores de risco biopsicossociais: necessitam de um olhar especial? [Children of addicted parents with bio-psychosocial risk factors: do they need a special care?] Revista de Psiquiatria Clínica. v. 31, n. 2, São Paulo, 2004.
Available on: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-60832004000200001
Context: Alcoholism and other drug addictions tend to run in the families. Children of addicted parents are more at risk of addiction and psychiatric disorders than other children. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the profile of children, adolescents and families in a selective prevention service offered to the children of addicted parents, and to discuss alternatives for the assessment and treatment of this population. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: Selective prevention service implemented in the downtown district of São Paulo, with 63 parents, 54 children and 45 adolescents. Main measurements: Socio-demographic data, Drawing-of-Family-and-Story Procedure – DF-E; Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI); Criteria about psychosocial stress situation in childhood; Self-Report Questionnaire SRQ-20; Family CAGE. Results: Regarding the family profile, 67% belong to D level in socio-demographic data, with the majority of families studied having an addicted father (67%); alcohol was the most frequent substance used (75%). The SRQ-20 assesses 59% of mates, who are not addicted, with mental suffering. In children, shyness, inferiority feelings, depression, family conflict, need for warm-heartedness and a good level of energy that is level-headed in terms of emotional and mental areas were observed. In adolescents, there were observed higher levels of problems in DUSI areas: psychiatric disorder, social competency, family system, and leisure/recreation. Conclusions: The paper concluded the need for a specialized selective prevention service in children, adolescents and families affected by substance abuse considering that children of addicted parents are at risk of developing bio-psychosocial problems.