[Family functioning, personality disorders, and depressive and anxiety symptoms in the mothers of children with food refusal].

OBJECTIVE

A review of the literature reveals that feeding problems during early childhood can be related to maternal psychiatric disorders. We aimed to evaluate the personality disorders, levels of depression and anxiety symptoms in the mothers of children with food refusal in addition to family functioning.

METHOD

Thirty children aged between 1 and 6 years admitted to the clinic for food refusal and their mothers were included in the study. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children and their mothers. The Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, McMaster Family Assessment Device and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders were performed in mothers, and the presence of any personality disorders was evaluated with the SCID-II Interview.

RESULTS

The depression and anxiety scores of the mothers of patients were higher than those of the controls. Perceived family functioning by mothers of patients was more problematic than that of the controls. Rates of maternal personality disorders were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Food refusal is not only related to characteristics of the child or his/her mother, but also to problems in family functioning. An integrative approach which evaluates the whole family is helpful to assess and treat children with food refusal.