Chapter 8 204 ‘’But I would, for all those reasons just mentioned, want it [desire for children] to be asked. Because there are too few people aware of how things are passed on trans- generationally. And then yes, a piece, a piece of knowledge in this area is very valuable.’’ (Woman, 70 years). Moreover, patients in focus groups expressed a need to talk about more than psychiatric symptoms in treatment. They expressed the need for a holistic approach: ‘‘I am okay now, but I think what you also mean is that someone thinks along with you. And sees you as a human begin and thinks what could happen to you in the future. I have been very lucky in psychiatric healthcare regarding this, and they really think with me like, if we let you go now, what is going to cross your path. What are we going to talk about. I think that, not only regarding children, it is nice if someone takes initiative to have a real conversation.’’ (Woman, 53 years). Some people expressed the desire to receive validation from the MHP about their decision to not have children: ‘’I have a whole collection of baby clothes in the attic. And friends they say like: ‘you will never have children, just get rid of it’. And that is of course true, I mean, I will be sixty coming winter. But my psychiatrist always says to me, ‘you have taken care of your children very well. You have conserved them well.’’’ (Woman, 59 years). Table 8.4 - Reasons to agree with the statement ‘a psychiatrist should discuss family planning with all patients in the reproductive phase of life’ according to mental health professionals, patients, and close ones. Reasons for agreement MHPs Patients Close ones Medication and desire for children/pregnancy influence on another Medication and desire for children/pregnancy influence one another Raising children whilst having a psychiatric vulnerability could affect offspring A psychiatrist should discuss relevant life themes of which desire for children is one By addressing this topic with all patients, psychiatrists enable a conversation A psychiatrist should discuss relevant life themes of which desire for children is one Pregnancy can influence the psychiatric problem of the patient and treatment thereof A psychiatrist should discuss relevant life themes of which desire for children is one Pregnancy can influence the psychiatric problem of the patient and treatment thereof Psychiatrists are aware of transgenerational effects of psychiatry through heredity and parenting Pregnancy can influence the psychiatric problem of the patient and treatment thereof A psychiatrist should provide patients with information regarding pregnancy and psychiatry A psychiatrist should provide patients with information regarding pregnancy and psychiatry Heredity and transmission of psychiatric problems/trauma can affect offspring Medication and desire for children/pregnancy influence one another
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