[Ambivalences in the relationship of parents towards their schizophrenic or substance dependent adult child: a comparison to their relationships with healthy siblings and to ordinary parent-child-relationships].

Objective: This study uses the concept of intergenerational ambivalence to compare the relationship of parents and their schizophrenic or substance dependent child to their relationship with the patient's siblings and to ordinary parent-child-relationships.

Method: 24 parents of schizophrenic patients, 19 parents of substance dependent patients and 38 parents of healthy adults were interviewed about ambivalences, satisfaction and relatedness within their parent-child-relationships.

Results: Within both comparisons, parents experience in their relationship towards their mentally ill child stronger and more frequent ambivalences and less satisfaction, but feel equally strong related to him as to his sibling or as parents of healthy adults.

Negative and positive childhood experiences across developmental periods in psychiatric patients with different diagnoses - an explorative study.

Background: A high frequency of childhood abuse has often been reported in adult psychiatric patients. The present survey explores the relationship between psychiatric diagnoses and positive and negative life events during childhood and adulthood in psychiatric samples.

Methods: A total of 192 patients with diagnoses of alcohol-related disorders (n = 45), schizophrenic disorders (n = 52), affective disorders (n = 54), and personality disorders (n = 41) completed a 42-item self-rating scale (Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire, TAQ).