Based on data from a large-scale cohort study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet, parental mental disorder significantly increases the risk of offspring mortality, which is particularly pronounced in rates of unnatural death and in cases where both parents have the diagnosis.
In interpreting the study results, it is essential to note that parental mental disorder is often associated with socioeconomic adversity, stress, unhealthy lifestyle, and limited access to medical services, which in turn directly affects children’s health. Accordingly, these contextual factors, and not solely the parental diagnosis, may contribute to the higher mortality risk.
The paper “Parental Mental Disorders and Offspring Mortality up to Middle Age” was published in the medical journal JAMA Psychiatry. The study was a nationwide register-based cohort study. Researchers used data from Swedish national registers to study more than 3.5 million individuals born between 1973 and 2014.
The study showed that mortality is twice as frequent in children with a parental mental disorder (nearly 7.9 cases per 10,000 person-years) compared to children whose parents did not have such a diagnosis (3.5 cases per 10,000 person-years).
After statistical analysis, it was determined that the risk of death is significantly higher in the offspring of parents with mental disorders:
- All-cause mortality: The risk increases 2.13-fold (Hazard Ratio, HR).
- Natural death: The risk increases 1.88-fold (HR).
- Unnatural death (e.g., suicide or accident): The risk increases 2.45-fold (HR), which is the highest rate.
The risks increase for almost all types of mental disorders. For instance, the risk increases 1.58-fold for eating disorders and 2.22-fold for intellectual disability.
The most severe picture was observed when both parents were diagnosed with a mental disorder. In this case:
- The risk of all-cause mortality increases 3.35-fold.
- The risk of unnatural death increases 4.24-fold.
It is important that this elevated risk persists throughout the lifespan, from infancy to adulthood. Although the risk remains consistently high, the greatest difference in risks (the peak of the relative risk) is evident in adulthood.
The study results emphasize the importance of providing support for families where parents suffer from mental disorders. The authors believe that further studies are necessary to investigate whether such support can reduce the risk of premature death in affected offspring. These findings hold significant public health relevance, as the absolute mortality risk increases with age.
