Citation

Lewin L, Abdrbo A. Arch. Psychiatr. Nurs. 2009; 23(3): 200-209.

Affiliation

Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4920, USA. linda.c.lewin@case

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apnu.2008.05.011

PMID

19446775

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe mothers with serious mental illness (SMI) and their children, who are involved with child protective services. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 122 files from a large metropolitan Department of Child and Family Services. FINDINGS: The most frequently occurring diagnoses in these mothers were polysubstance dependence (39.3%) and dual diagnoses (mental illness with substance abuse; 19.7%). There was an overrepresentation of African American mothers (60%) compared with the county population and a greater prevalence of child neglect (59.0%) compared with national prevalence. Most mothers and children had been exposed to domestic violence (62.6%). Mental health services were seldom utilized, and foster care was the most common placement (36.5%). Also, there was close spacing of the age of the children, with an average of 1.25 years between siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying common descriptive factors of mothers with mental illness can assist in responding to mothers with SMI and their children. There is a need to coordinate services of the Department of Child and Family Service and mental health providers that address parenting and the support of children.

Language: en