Journal of General Practice

Translating Knowledge about Parental Mental Illness to the Field of Practice

Abstract

Camilla Lauritzen and Charlotte Reedtz

Parental mental illness is a powerful risk factor, with a potential of serious impact for the children. Mental health problems are often transmitted from one generation to the next. Parental mental illness is however considered to be a malleable risk-factor, which means there are measures that can be taken to counteract the risk. Nevertheless, transferring this knowledge to the field of parental mental illness has been very difficult. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between knowledge and attitudes towards a child perspective in adult mental health services and actual clinical practice. The aim was furthermore to investigate which factors are hindering or promoting the translation of new knowledge to the field of practice. In the present study results will be interpreted in light of the theory of reasoned action.