Emotional neglect as the colossus among traumas in patients with eating disorders. A case-control study

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S165-S165
Author(s):  
D. Piacentino ◽  
C. Loriedo ◽  
M. Biondi ◽  
P. Girardi ◽  
J. Vanderlinden ◽  
...  

IntroductionIndividuals with eating disorders (EDs) often report a history of early traumatization. Although a great attention has been paid to sexual and physical trauma, less is known about emotional one, especially neglect.Objectives/aimsWe aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional trauma–occurring under 18 years of age–in ED patients vs. healthy controls, focusing on emotional abuse and neglect.MethodsWe consecutively recruited 57 DSM-V ED outpatients (91.2% females; age range = 18–42 years) at the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of our University Hospital and 90 healthy controls (78.9% females; age range = 20–39 years). Among ED patients, 43.9% had restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), 29.8% binge/purging AN, 26.3% bulimia nervosa. Individuals completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC). We used Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test for comparisons.ResultsED patients scored significantly higher than controls on all EDI-2 subscales (P-values < 0.05). On the TEC, emotional trauma was more frequent than sexual/physical ones in both ED patients and controls. Emotional trauma, and to a lesser extent physical one, were significantly more frequent in ED patients than controls. Distinguishing between emotional abuse and neglect, the latter had a higher prevalence than the former in both groups. Additionally, ED patients reported significantly more neglect, but not emotional abuse, than controls.ConclusionsOur findings show a high prevalence of emotional trauma in EDs, mainly neglect, i.e., a lack of care and attention potentially contributing to EDs. Thus, it is crucial to investigate emotional neglect in ED patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S165-S166
Author(s):  
A.M. Pignatelli ◽  
C. Loriedo ◽  
M. Biondi ◽  
P. Girardi ◽  
J. Vanderlinden ◽  
...  

IntroductionA high proportion of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) report childhood abuse and neglect. The prevalence of traumatic events in ED patients has been extensively investigated; less is known about their self-perceived–and reported–severity. Objectives/Aims: We aimed to assess in ED patients vs. healthy controls the severity, i.e., duration, perpetrator, and subjective impact, of sexual, physical, and emotional traumas suffered from 0 to 18 years, paying particular attention to emotional neglect.MethodsFifty-seven consecutive DSM-V ED patients (91.2% females; age range: 18–42 years) were recruited at the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of our University Hospital. Ninety controls (78.9% females; age range: 20–39 years) were also recruited. Among ED patients, 43.9% had restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), 29.8% binge/purging AN, 26.3% bulimia nervosa. Individuals completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC).ResultsThe severity of all traumatic events, according to the TEC total score, was significantly higher in ED patients than controls (P < 0.001). Moreover, ED patients showed significantly higher scores with regard to emotional neglect (P < 0.001) and emotional abuse (P < 0.001). The same can be said for physical traumas (P < 0.01) and physical abuse (P < 0.01), although with a lower significance, and for sexual abuse (P < 0.05), with an even lower significance. No difference in the severity of sexual harassment was found.ConclusionsAll types of traumas, especially neglect, can occur in ED patients and controls, however they are reported as more severe by ED patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 2475-2484 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Daalman ◽  
K. M. J. Diederen ◽  
E. M. Derks ◽  
R. van Lutterveld ◽  
R. S. Kahn ◽  
...  

BackgroundHallucinations have consistently been associated with traumatic experiences during childhood. This association appears strongest between physical and sexual abuse and auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). It remains unclear whether traumatic experiences mainly colour the content of AVH or whether childhood trauma triggers the vulnerability to experience hallucinations in general. In order to investigate the association between hallucinations, childhood trauma and the emotional content of hallucinations, experienced trauma and phenomenology of AVH were investigated in non-psychotic individuals and in patients with a psychotic disorder who hear voices.MethodA total of 127 non-psychotic individuals with frequent AVH, 124 healthy controls and 100 psychotic patients with AVH were assessed for childhood trauma. Prevalence of childhood trauma was compared between groups and the relation between characteristics of voices, especially emotional valence of content, and childhood trauma was investigated.ResultsBoth non-psychotic individuals with AVH and patients with a psychotic disorder and AVH experienced more sexual and emotional abuse compared with the healthy controls. No difference in the prevalence of traumatic experiences could be observed between the two groups experiencing AVH. In addition, no type of childhood trauma could distinguish between positive or negative emotional valence of the voices and associated distress. No correlations were found between sexual abuse and emotional abuse and other AVH characteristics.ConclusionsThese results suggest that sexual and emotional trauma during childhood render a person more vulnerable to experience AVH in general, which can be either positive voices without associated distress or negative voices as part of a psychotic disorder.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1998-2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatice Odacı ◽  
Çiğdem Berber Çelik

The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not traumatic childhood experiences in childhood predict a disposition to risk-taking and aggression among university students. The participants consisted of 851 students: 477 (56.1%) females and 374 (43.9%) males attending various faculties at the Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale, Aggression Questionnaire, and Personal Information Form were used for data collection. The analysis results revealed a positive correlation between traumatic experiences (physical, sexual, emotional maltreatment, and emotional neglect) and risk-taking and aggression. Physical and sexual abuse and gender are significant predictors of risk-taking. Physical abuse and gender are some of the predictors of aggression. Another finding from the study is that physical and emotional abuse and emotional neglect vary by gender. This study concludes that exposure to traumatic experiences in childhood prepares the foundation for negative behaviors in adulthood.


Author(s):  
Parul Khare Sinha ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Gorea ◽  
Radhika M. Bavle

Child abuse can take many forms like physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and Munchausen’s syndrome. It is important to realize that dentist should be aware that such physical and sexual abuse may result in oral and dental injuries or conditions. This review is going to highlight the facts of child abuse and neglect that are overlooked and unnoticed in routine dental practice. Dentists are in an ideal position to detect signs of child abuse because 65% of all physical trauma associated with abuse occurs in the face or neck area. This paper lays emphases on such findings, their significance and to meticulously observe and document them. Furthermore, prominences on key steps in recognizing and reporting abuse while conducting and documenting interviews with the children and parents culminating with discreet cases of abuse related to dentistry.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 875
Author(s):  
Federica Galli ◽  
Carlo Lai ◽  
Teresa Gregorini ◽  
Chiara Ciacchella ◽  
Stefano Carugo

Adverse childhood experiences could be important determinants of adult disease. The present study analyzed the association between early traumatic experiences and the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVDs). It was hypothesized that patients with CVD would report a higher number of traumatic experiences during childhood and that this association would be stronger in women. The Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC) was fulfilled by 75 patients with a first-time diagnosis of CVD and 84 healthy controls randomly selected from the general population. The two groups were not balanced for age and sex. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) and analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs), with group (clinical vs. control) and gender (male vs. female) as between-subjects factors, and age of participants as covariate, were performed on the number and the impact of the traumatic experiences (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse) for the three age group in which the trauma was experienced (from 0 to 10, from 11 to 18, from 19 years onwards). The main results showed that participants with CVDs have experienced a higher number of early traumatic experiences compared to the control group, such as emotional neglect (p = 0.023), emotional abuse (0.008 ≤ p ≤ 0.033), and physical abuse (0.001 < p ≤ 0.038). The results also revealed that women with CVDs have experienced more traumatic events compared to the women of the control group (0.001 < p ≤ 0.020). These results seem to highlight an association between traumatic experiences in childhood and CVD in adulthood, particularly in women. Such findings could have relevant implications for clinical practice, suggesting the importance of adopting an integrated approach in the care of the patient with cardiovascular diseases paying attention also to the clinical psychological risk factors.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 414-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison J. Jessar ◽  
Jessica L. Hamilton ◽  
Megan Flynn ◽  
Lyn Y. Abramson ◽  
Lauren B. Alloy

The present study examined whether emotional abuse and neglect differentially predicted decreases in emotional clarity, and whether emotional clarity, in turn, predicted increases in depressive symptoms. Participants included 204 early adolescents (52% African American; 54% female; M age = 12.85 years) who completed four assessments with measures of depressive symptoms, emotional clarity, and emotional abuse and neglect. Hierarchical linear regressions indicated that emotional neglect significantly predicted decreases in emotional clarity, whereas emotional abuse did not. Further, mediational analyses revealed that decreases in emotional clarity mediated the relationship between emotional neglect and increases in depressive symptoms. The current study suggests that emotional neglect (more so than emotional abuse) may hinder an individual’s ability to identify his or her own emotions, which may increase the risk of depressive symptoms during adolescence. These findings have significant implications for the development of intervention and prevention programs for depression.


2008 ◽  
Vol 61 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitar Bonevski ◽  
Antoni Novotni

Introduction Numerous authors associate child abuse with serious long-term consequences to the general and psychological well-being in particular. Clinical research to date reveals strong correlation between childhood abuse and neglect and anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder. Material and Methods This study was conducted in order to assess the level of emotional, physical and sexual childhood abuse as well as the physical and emotional childhood neglect in 40 adult patients suffering from panic disorder, diagnosed in accordance with the 10th International Classification of Disorders diagnostic criteria, compared with the control group of 40 healthy test subjects without a history of psychiatric disorders, using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The severity of the clinical manifestation in patients with panic disorder was assessed using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale. Results and Discussion There were no significant differences between the groups as to the level of sexual abuse and physical neglect, whereas in the group of patients with panic disorder, the level of physical and emotional abuse was significantly higher, with emphasis on emotional neglect. With regards to the correlation between the severity of the clinical manifestation in patients with panic disorder and the severity of suffered abuse and neglect in childhood age, significant correlation was found in the physical and emotional abuse as well as emotional neglect. There was no significant correlation in the aspect of the physical neglect and sexual abuse. Conclusion Our research underlines the importance of childhood physical abuse, and especially emotional abuse and emotional neglect in the occurrence of panic disorder later in life.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuoni Xiao

Childhood emotional abuse and emotional neglect are the least well-studied forms of childhood abuse due to difficulties in detection and definition. Available evidence suggests associations with multiple adulthood mental health problems in both clinical and non-clinical populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number CRD42020197833) explored the associations between childhood emotional abuse and neglect and various adulthood mental health problems based on eight databases. There were 79 English and 11 Chinese studies meeting inclusion criteria. The results suggested that childhood emotional abuse and emotional neglect had positive associations with various adulthood mental health problems (d = 0.02-1.84) such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicide ideation, or suicide ideation or attempts, personality disorder, eating disorder and other psychological symptoms in the general population and across different geographical regions. Further, the findings suggested that compared with individuals in non-clinical populations, individuals in clinical populations were more likely to have experienced emotional abuse and neglect during their childhood. The review highlights the need for more research on emotional abuse and emotional neglect, especially in non-western countries and the elder populations. They further underline the importance of addressing issues related to childhood emotional abuse/neglect experiences for the prevention and treatment of mental health issues in adulthood.


Author(s):  
Julian Max Bernhard Dizinger ◽  
Carolin Martha Doll ◽  
Marlene Rosen ◽  
Michael Gruen ◽  
Lukas Daum ◽  
...  

AbstractSchizotypy constitutes a susceptibility to beneficial and deleterious schizotypal traits, ranging from coping mechanisms to schizotypal personality disorder on a psychosis continuum. Growing evidence indicates a relationship between childhood adversity and trauma and schizotypy. However, the exact influence of childhood adversity and trauma on schizotypy and its relation to sex is not sufficiently understood. Therefore, we investigated sex-adjusted connections between childhood adversity and trauma subdomains (emotional/physical/sexual abuse, emotional/physical neglect) and positive (magical ideation, perceptual aberration) as well as negative schizotypy (physical/social anhedonia). In total, 240 outpatients of the Early Detection and Intervention Centre of the University Hospital Cologne were assessed with the Trauma and Distress Scale for childhood adversity and trauma and the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales for schizotypy. Path analyses were performed to investigate sex-adjusted correlations. The well-fitting path model of the total sample linked emotional abuse to magical ideation (p = 0.03; SE = 0.20) and emotional neglect to social anhedonia (p = 0.01; SE = 0.26). In females, physical abuse predicted magical ideation (p = 0.01; SE = 0.33), while emotional neglect forecasted physical anhedonia (p = 0.03; SE = 0.34) and social anhedonia (p = 0.03; SE = 0.32). In males, sexual abuse predicted perceptive aberration (p = 0.04; SE = 0.19) and emotional abuse forecasted magical ideation (p = 0.03; SE = 0.27). Overall, the significance of sex-specific interrelations between trauma and schizotypy were highlighted. Magical ideation and perceptive aberration occurred prominently in the absence of negative and disorganized schizotypy, thus positive schizotypy could be discussed as a beneficial expression of coping with emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Furthermore, emotional neglect should be addressed particularly to prevent deleterious negative schizotypy in females.Trial registration number (20-1243), date of registration (May 19th 2020), retrospectively registered.


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