[Children of psychotic parents--a neglected risk group].

Children of psychotic parents form a special risk group with an increased probability to develop psychiatric disorders. After an introductory presentation of the most important research findings, it is shown that, up to now, children of psychotic parents have not been paid much attention to in the literature. A concept for prevention is introduced that may serve as an orientation for planning and realizing preventive measures for children of psychotic parents. The prevention program comprises interventions aimed to improve coping strategies with the parental psychosis as well as specific preventive interventions to improve the situation of the children. Finally, principles are presented that should be acknowledged by specialists when doing preventive work.