Objective To analyze the relationship between mental health in parents and dietary treatment for children with phenylketonuria(PKU),in order to find measures of improving compliance with diet therapy. Methods The Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90),Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS)and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)were used to assess the mental health levels of parents with PKU children among 63 people whose children were diagnosed and treated continuously in neonatal screening center of Taian,and to survey the concentration of phenylalanine,follow-up period during follow-up treatment.Under the investigation on mental health of parents with PKU children,the factor scores were divided into I,II groups,and made general questionnaire.The normal people whose children were checked in child healthcare department were taken as control. Results 1)The mental health levels of parents with PKU children were significantly lower than those of control group(t＞2.78,P＜0.01,except fear and interpersonal sensitivity factors).2)The mental health levels of parents with PKU children in group Ⅰ were significantly lower than those of Ⅱ(χ²>4.084,P<0.01,except fear factor).3)The control to concentration of phenylalanine in group I was better than that of II (χ²=29.866,P＜0.01),follow-up period was shorter(t=3.535,P＜0.01),this showed a good diet treatment compliance;4)There were significant differences in the educational level and the knowledge level about disease between group I and group II(χ²=13.445,9.718,P＜0.01).Conclusion The partents with lower mental health has better dietary treatment compliance,the compliance relates to parents' income,the educational level and the knowledge level.The parents are the key to imporve dietary treatment compliance and make normal development of intelligence