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Objectives Parental psychosis poses a risk factor for a child's well-being. Few studies have focused on the parents' views of how their psychosis affects their parenting, and results for parenting ability in this group are contradictory. The present study aimed to explore how parents with psychosis experience the effect(s) of their illness on parenting. Methods In-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 parents who attended outpatient clinics specializing in psychosis. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data related to the research aim were analyzed deductively according to the protection, reciprocity, control, guided learning, and group participation model of parenting. Data in each domain were subsequently coded inductively to form subthemes. Results Results show that all domains of parenting appear to be affected by psychosis. The parents specifically mentioned that depression, fatigue, and difficulty focusing because of hearing voices had negative impacts on their abilities to provide protection, reciprocity, and control. The parents also expressed difficulties in maintaining routines in the child's everyday life. Furthermore, the theme "Unpredictable absences" crosses all domains and highlights the parents' recurrent mental and physical absences from their children during psychotic episodes. Conclusions The present study provides some insight into how different aspects of parenting may be affected by psychosis. We suggest that these effects on parenting need to be further explored and confirmed by research focusing on the child's perspective and on observations of parent-child interaction. Keywords Parental psychosis • Parenting • Psychiatric services • Schizophrenia • Qualitative study Nearly 6% of children in Sweden grow up with a parent with mental illness (Hjern and Manhica 2013), but international figures point to as many as one in five children (Reupert et al. 2012). International as well as studies from Scandinavia estimate that a substantial minority of patients in adult psychiatric care have children under 18 years old (Lauritzen 2014; Maybery and Reupert 2018; Ruud et al. 2019). The increased risk of developing mental health problems is well established in children growing up with a parent with mental illness (LeFrancois 2012; Leijdesdorff et al. 2017; Ramchandani and Psychogiou 2009).

PurposeDropout is a common problem in various exercise interventions. The individual's experience is believed to greatly impact dropout, yet little is known about the individual experiences of taking part in exercise interventions. The aim of this study was to examine individuals’ experiences following a self-determination theory–based exercise intervention in order to gain understanding of how standardized interventions can be adjusted to fit individuals’ specific needs, capacities, and circumstances.MethodsA qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was conducted with eight informants (three male and five female) aged between 26 and 47 years, whom all had participated in a 6-month exercise intervention with individual coaching based on self-determination theory and motivational interviewing. The interviews were analyzed thematically with an inductive approach.ResultsAspects that influenced the informants’ motivation and participation in the exercise intervention were linked to three themes: the frames of the intervention, measurable changes, and the individual's context. The themes present information about the process and to what extent the informants felt that the intervention was adapted to fit their lives and needs.ConclusionsThis study emphasizes the importance of individualizing exercise interventions to support individuals’ diverse capacities and psychological needs.

The associations between attachment styles and symptoms found here are consistent with those of previous studies. It could be important for clinicians to identify patients' attachment styles. Such knowledge would help mental health professionals to understand better the patients' capacity to handle distress and help professionals to address interventions aiming to target each patient's specific needs.

To meet children's needs for information and support when a parent has a mental illness, Beardslee's family intervention was implemented in Swedish psychosis care. The present study aimed to gain understanding of how parents' with psychosis and their children experienced having taken part in Beardslee's family intervention. The study followed COREQ guidelines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants (8 parents with psychosis and 7 children) who had participated in the family intervention. Data were analysed with content analysis. Results showed that the parents perceived that the intervention had contributed to improved illness knowledge, communication, and understanding in the family. They also appreciated receiving support in finding an age-adapted way of explaining their illness, but asked for structured follow-ups in order to maintain communication. However, comparing parents' and children's interviews led to discrepancies in perceptions of the overall benefits of the intervention. In conclusion, parents with psychosis need continual support in talking to their children about their illness. Furthermore, discrepancies between parents' and children's interviews show the importance of multi-perspective data collection when studying intervention effects.