Psychiatric Morbidity Among Offspring of Fathers with Substance Use Disorders

Abstract Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) is characterized by recurrent use of alcohol or drugs (or both) that results in problems such as being unable to control the use of the substance; failing to meet obligations at work, home, or school; having poor health; and spending an increased amount of time getting, using, or recovering from the effects of using the substance. parent experience of SUD can have a negative impact on their offspring. They are more likely than offspring who do not have a parent with an SUD to have lower socioeconomic status and increased difficulties in academic and social settings and family functioning. Offspring of fathers with substance use disorders are at increased risk for psychopathology, including conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders. Objective To assess the relation between the presence of substance use disorder in fathers and the rate of occurrence of mental illnesses among their offspring. To compare the psychopathology in the offspring of fathers with SUD with that of the healthy control group. Methods This is a cross-sectional observational study that was conducted at Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, in the addiction treatment unit of both the inpatient department and outpatient clinics, Ain Shams University Hospitals, From February 2023 to December 2023. 130 offspring participants were recruited and divided into a case and a control group consisting of 65 Offspring of fathers with substance use disorder and 65 Offspring of healthy fathers that have no history of any psychiatric disorder. Results The study compared the offspring of fathers with substance use disorders (cases) to controls. While there were no significant sociodemographic differences between groups, several mental health outcomes differed. Offspring in the case group showed significantly higher rates of depression (20% vs 0%), separation anxiety disorder (27.69% vs 0%), avoidant disorder (7.69% vs 0%), generalized anxiety disorder (24.62% vs 4.62%), and anorexia nervosa (12.31% vs 0%) compared to controls. No significant differences were found for ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, tic disorders, alcohol abuse, or substance abuse. The relative risk was higher for several mental illnesses in the case group. Age of addiction onset in fathers (particularly 16-25 years) and addiction severity were associated with increased psychiatric disorders in offspring. Children of fathers using non-prescribed tranquilizers had higher rates of separation anxiety and oppositional defiant disorders. Overall, the results suggest that paternal substance use disorders are associated with an increased risk of certain psychiatric disorders in offspring. Conclusion children of fathers with substance use disorder are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression, separation anxiety, avoidant disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The predictive factors of the presence of mental illness in the offspring of fathers with substance use disorder are the age of onset, severity of addiction, and type of substance used in fathers, besides the offspring’s age. all of which were linked to psychiatric disorders, particularly depressive and conduct disorders among offspring.