CHIMPS-NET | Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

Network for children of mentally ill parents - CHIMPS-NET

CHIMPS-NET supports children and young people with
mentally ill parents

The research project CHIMPS-NET aims to improve the mental health and quality of life of children and adolescents with mentally ill or addicted parents, but also the quality of life of the parents themselves. The aim is to support coping with illness within the family and to strengthen relationships between the individual family members. The families will continue to be supported in all aspects of everyday life.

Recruitment of subjects for this project was successfully completed in December 2022.

Targeted counselling concepts for affected families

Children of mentally ill parents often show little concern and anxiety. They often withdraw and try to cope with their everyday and school tasks as best they can. Many of these children and young people mature from this situation and develop special strengths. However, if additional stresses and strains arise in the course of development, some children and young people may find it difficult to cope with their problems. This can lead to developmental crises, which can manifest themselves, for example, in school problems, withdrawal behaviour, psychosomatic or psychological symptoms.

In order to identify and treat mental stress in children and adolescents as early as possible, we have developed targeted counselling concepts for families in which one parent is mentally ill.

Funded by the Federal Joint Committee - Innovation Committee

What is CHIMPs-NET?

Who is the project aimed at?

Our project is aimed at all families with at least one mentally ill or addicted parent and at least one child aged 3 to 18 years. Single parents or parents who are not currently undergoing psychiatric treatment (but have a diagnosed mental illness) can also participate. The child(ren) should live in the household of the parents or have regular contact (at least fortnightly) with the sick parent.

Are you interested?

Recruitment of subjects for this project was successfully completed in December 2022.

Contact persons:

Melinda Mross

Dr. Ute Dürrwächter

What do you get in the project?

All families are first invited to an initial interview. In this interview we will inform you about the further procedure and answer all your questions. If you decide to participate, you will receive a comprehensive diagnosis of all family members (for children under 10 years of age, we only conduct a conversation with the parents; for children over 10 years of age, we also conduct a conversation with the children themselves).

Based on the results of this diagnosis, you will be assigned to one of three groups:

Your family will be invited to about 8 interviews over 6 months, in which only the parents, only the children or all family members participate.

Your family will be invited to three family meetings in which all family members will participate.

Your family will be invited for a preliminary interview. Afterwards you will take part in 5 interviews with about 4 to 5 other families. At the end your family will be invited to an individual final meeting.

According to this grouping, a random principle decides whether your family will receive the respective intervention or whether your family will become part of the "control group". This means that you receive the usual routine care.

After 6, 12 and 18 months we ask you to fill in questionnaires again and to participate in diagnostic interviews. After completion of the project, all families will receive an expense allowance of 50 euros if they have participated in all interviews at all four measurement dates.