Att vara med mamma känns som att vara på andra sidan jorden : En kvalitativ litteraturstudie om barn som växt upp med en förälder som är diagnostiserad med bipolär sjukdom

Sammanfattning: Background: Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition that lasts for a lifetime. The condition causes episodes of mani, hypermania and depression. Between the episodes there is a period in wich the individual if free of symtoms. Bipolar disorder is divided into two types, Bipolar 1 disorder and Bipolar 2 disorder. The condition can not be cured but the symtoms can be treated. Heredity and enviroment are estimated to be contributing factors for the development of the condition. Approximately 23% of all children in the world are estimated to have grown up with a parent with psychiatric disease. Aim: In this qualitative literature study, children's experience of growing up with a parent diagnosed with Bipolar disorder was studied. Method: The method that was used was a non-systematic literature review with an integrated analysis. Result: The analysis resulted in four themes, The child's experience of its parent, Social network, When the parent is in need of inpatient care and  Stigmatization & attitudes. Eight subthemes were presented that describes the experience of living with a parent who is diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. Conclusion: Based on the collection of the children's experiences from their childhood with a parent that is diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, it is clear that the child is affected by their parents mental illnes. It is important for the children to have a social network and be able to talk about their feelings and experiences, instead of being forced by family and society to be silenced about their parent's mental illnes.