Primary prevention of mental health risks in children of depressed patients: Preliminary results from the Kanu-intervention

Children of mentally ill parents are one of the major risk groups for developing mental health problems. The family-based Kanu-intervention was designed to foster coping strategies and resources of affected families through a combination of individual, family and group-based intervention strategies. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the Kanu-intervention in families with depressed parents, using a quasi-experimental, pre-post-and six-month follow-up design with measures of child's psychological and social adjustment. Our study provided preliminary evidence that the Kanu-intervention is effective for reducing child psychopathological distress. Establishing preventive interventions as part of psychiatric aftercare may provide a substantial benefit in reducing mental health risks in this high-risk group.