scholarly journals Childhood abuse and psychotic experiences in adulthood: findings from a 35-year longitudinal study

2018 ◽  
Vol 214 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline J. Bell ◽  
James A. Foulds ◽  
L. John Horwood ◽  
Roger T. Mulder ◽  
Joseph M. Boden

BackgroundThe extent to which exposure to childhood sexual and physical abuse increases the risk of psychotic experiences in adulthood is currently unclear.AimsTo examine the relationship between childhood sexual and physical abuse and psychotic experiences in adulthood taking into account potential confounding and time-dynamic covariate factors.MethodData were from a cohort of 1265 participants studied from birth to 35 years. At ages 18 and 21, cohort members were questioned about childhood sexual and physical abuse. At ages 30 and 35, they were questioned about psychotic experiences (symptoms of abnormal thought and perception). Generalised estimating equation models investigated covariation of the association between abuse exposure and psychotic experiences including potential confounding factors in childhood (socioeconomic disadvantage, adverse family functioning) and time-dynamic covariate factors (mental health, substance use and life stress).ResultsData were available for 962 participants; 6.3% had been exposed to severe sexual abuse and 6.4% to severe physical abuse in childhood. After adjustment for confounding and time-dynamic covariate factors, those exposed to severe sexual abuse had rates of abnormal thought and abnormal perception symptoms that were 2.25 and 4.08 times higher, respectively than the ‘no exposure’ group. There were no significant associations between exposure to severe physical abuse and psychotic experiences.ConclusionsFindings indicate that exposure to severe childhood sexual (but not physical) abuse is independently associated with an increased risk of psychotic experiences in adulthood (particularly symptoms of abnormal perception) and this association could not be fully accounted for by confounding or time-dynamic covariate factors.Declaration of interestNone.

2004 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
RENEE D. GOODWIN ◽  
DAVID M. FERGUSSON ◽  
L. JOHN HORWOOD

Background. The objectives of the study were to examine linkages between exposure to childhood abuse and interparental violence and the subsequent development of panic attacks and panic disorder using data gathered on a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand young people studied to the age of 21 years.Method. Data on: (a) exposure to child abuse and interparental violence; (b) the development of panic attacks and panic disorder; and (c) other childhood and related factors were gathered over the course of a 21-year longitudinal study.Results. After adjustment for childhood and related factors, exposure to childhood physical abuse was associated with a significantly increased risk of later panic attack (OR 2·3, 95% CI 1·1–4·9) and panic disorder (OR 3·0, 95% CI 1·1–7·9); childhood sexual abuse was associated with a significantly increased risk of panic attack (OR 4·1, 95% CI 2·3–7·2) and a marginally significant increase risk of panic disorder (OR 2·2; 95% CI 0·98–5·0). Exposure to interparental violence was unrelated to later panic attack or disorder after adjustment.Conclusions. Exposure to childhood sexual and physical abuse was associated with increased risks of later panic attack/disorder even after adjustment for prospectively assessed confounding factors. However, exposure to interparental violence during childhood was not related to increased risk of later panic attack/disorder after adjustment. These data suggest the need for clinicians to be aware that patients with histories of childhood physical and sexual abuse may be at increased risk for panic during young adulthood.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (03) ◽  
pp. 300-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Bhavsar ◽  
J. Boydell ◽  
P. McGuire ◽  
V. Harris ◽  
M. Hotopf ◽  
...  

Aims.We have previously reported an association between childhood abuse and psychotic experiences (PEs) in survey data from South East London. Childhood abuse is related to subsequent adulthood adversity, which could form one pathway to PEs. We aimed to investigate evidence of mediation of the association between childhood abuse and PEs by adverse life events.Methods.Data were analysed from the South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH,n= 1698). Estimates of the total effects on PEs of any physical or sexual abuse while growing up were partitioned into direct (i.e. unmediated) and indirect (total and specific) effects, mediatedviaviolent and non-violent life events.Results.There was strong statistical evidence for direct (OR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.19–2.1) and indirect (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.32–1.72) effects of childhood abuse on PEs after adjustment for potential confounders, indicating partial mediation of this effectviaviolent and non-violent life events. An estimated 47% of the total effect of abuse on PEs was mediatedviaadulthood adverse life events, of which violent life events made up 33% and non-violent life events the remaining 14%.Conclusions.The association between childhood abuse and PEs is partly mediated through the experience of adverse life events in adulthood. There is some evidence that a larger proportion of this effect was mediated through violent life events than non-violent life events.


2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (11) ◽  
pp. 2361-2367 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Torniainen ◽  
A. Wegelius ◽  
A. Tuulio-Henriksson ◽  
J. Lönnqvist ◽  
J. Suvisaari

BackgroundBoth low birthweight and high birthweight have been associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia and cognitive impairments in the general population. We assessed the association between birthweight and cognitive performance in persons with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives.MethodWe investigated a population-based family sample comprising persons with schizophrenia (n = 142) and their unaffected first-degree relatives (n = 277). Both patients and relatives were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Clinician Version (SCID-CV) and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was administered. Information on birthweight was obtained from obstetric records. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to investigate the effect of birthweight, as a continuous variable, on cognitive functioning, adjusting for within-family correlation and relevant covariates.ResultsBoth low birthweight and high birthweight were associated with lower performance in visuospatial reasoning, processing speed, set-shifting and verbal and visual working memory among persons with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives compared to individuals with birthweight in the intermediate range. The group × birthweight interactions were non-significant.ConclusionsBoth low birthweight and high birthweight are associated with deficits in cognition later in life. Schizophrenia does not seem to modify the relationship between birthweight and cognition in families with schizophrenia.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Tyler ◽  
Sarah J. Gervais ◽  
M. Meghan Davidson

Each year, thousands of female adolescents run away from home due to sexual abuse, yet they continue to be victims of sexual assault once on the street. To date, few studies have examined how various forms of victimization are related to different types of substance use. The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between street exposure, childhood abuse, and different forms of street victimization with alcohol and marijuana use among 137 homeless and runaway female adolescents. Results from path analysis revealed that child sexual abuse was positively linked to trading sex and sexual and physical victimization. In addition, those who have traded sex experienced greater physical victimization, and who have spent more time away from home, used alcohol more frequently. Moreover, trading sex and experiencing more types of sexual victimization were positively linked to more frequent marijuana usage. Age, age at first run, longest time away from home, sexual abuse, and trading sex had significant indirect effects on alcohol and/or marijuana use. Together, these factors accounted for 27% of the variance in alcohol use and 37% of the variance in marijuana use.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S341-S341
Author(s):  
A. Tortelli ◽  
F. Perquier ◽  
V. Le Masson ◽  
D. Sauze ◽  
N. Skurnik ◽  
...  

IntroductionHomeless people are more likely to have higher prevalence of psychotic disorders than general population. However, we know less about the prevalence of psychotic symptoms in this group.ObjectivesTo estimate the lifetime and current prevalence of psychotic symptoms and their correlates among homeless people living in the Paris metropolitan area.MethodsWe analysed data from 839 homeless randomly selected for the “Samenta” survey that studied mental health and addiction problems in this population. The mini-international neuropsychiatric interview was used to assess psychotic symptoms. Separate multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations of sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education level and migrant status), early life experiences (sexual abuse, physical and psychological violence, substance use) and psychiatric disorders.ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of psychotic symptoms was 35.4% (95% CI = 28.1–43.5) and the prevalence of current symptoms was 14,0% (95% CI = 9,8–19,6) with no significant difference between migrant and native groups, after exclusion of subjects with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder (n = 145). In multi-adjusted models, childhood sexual abuse was associated with an increased risk of lifetime or current psychotic symptoms (OR > 4, P < 0.05). Early life psychological violence was strongly associated with the risk of lifetime psychotic symptoms in natives (OR = 6.33; 95% CI = 2.10–19.0), whereas alcohol misuse in adolescence was related to lifetime or current psychotic symptoms in migrants (OR = 3.34; 95% CI = 1.20–9.37).ConclusionHomeless people are at higher risk of psychotic symptoms compared to the general population in France. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that childhood abuse is an important risk factor of the psychosis continuum.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (5) ◽  
pp. 346-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Morgan ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
Abraham Reichenberg ◽  
Souci Frissa ◽  
Matthew Hotopf ◽  
...  

BackgroundThere is robust evidence that childhood adversity is associated with an increased risk of psychosis. There is, however, little research on intervening factors that might increase or decrease risk following childhood adversity.AimsTo investigate main effects of, and synergy between, childhood abuse and life events and cannabis use on odds of psychotic experiences.MethodData on psychotic experiences and childhood abuse, life events and cannabis use were collected from 1680 individuals as part of the South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH), a population-based household survey.ResultsThere was strong evidence that childhood abuse and number of life events combined synergistically to increase odds of psychotic experiences beyond the effects of each individually. There was similar, but weaker, evidence for cannabis use (past year).ConclusionsOur findings are consistent with the hypothesis that childhood abuse creates an enduring vulnerability to psychosis that is realised in the event of exposure to further stressors and risk factors.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
RENEE D. GOODWIN ◽  
MURRAY B. STEIN

Background. The goal of this investigation was to determine the association between self-reported childhood trauma and physical disorders among adults in the United States.Method. Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (N=S877). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and childhood neglect and the likelihood of specific physical disorders among adults.Results. Childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect were associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of a wide range of physical illnesses during adulthood. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifetime anxiety and depressive disorders, alcohol and substance dependence, and all types of trauma: results showed that childhood physical abuse was associated with increased risk of lung disease (OR=1·5 (1·1, 2·2)), peptic ulcer (OR=1·5 (1·03, 2·2)) and arthritic disorders (OR=1·5 (1·1, 2·2)); childhood sexual abuse was associated with increased risk of cardiac disease (OR=3·7 (1·5, 9·4)); and childhood neglect was associated with increased risk of diabetes (OR=2·2 (1·1, 4·4)) and autoimmune disorders (OR=4·4 (1·7, 11·6)).Conclusions. Consistent with previous work, these results suggest that self-reported childhood trauma is associated with increased risk of a range of physical illnesses during adulthood. Future research that includes replication of these findings using prospectively assessed physical and mental disorders with objectively measured biological data using a longitudinal design, including other known risk factors for these diseases and more detailed information on specific forms of abuse, is needed to understand the potential mechanisms of these links.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C. Wilson ◽  
Angela Scarpa

This study examined the influence of interpersonal functioning as a mediator in the relationship between child sexual abuse and depression symptoms, after accounting for the influence of child physical abuse. The research questions build on the existing knowledge base by examining mechanisms of adult adjustment among child sexual abuse survivors. In the current study, 2,892 young adult women (18–29 years old; M = 19.06) reported on child sexual and physical abuse, 5 domains of interpersonal functioning, and depression symptoms. The results supported aggression, sensitivity, ambivalence, and lack of sociability as mediators in the relationship between child sexual abuse and depression symptoms. These results suggest that interpersonal difficulties related to hostility, emotional reactivity, inability to collaborate, and isolation may be of particular interest when understanding depression in child sexual abuse survivors. The findings support interpersonal problems as a key mechanism of depression symptoms following child sexual abuse and is even demonstrated when examining long-term outcomes and controlling for child physical abuse. The hypotheses and findings are discussed in the context of interpersonal psychotherapy for depression.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simukai Shamu ◽  
Patience Shamu ◽  
Christina Zarowsky ◽  
Marleen Temmerman ◽  
Tamara Shefer ◽  
...  

BackgroundSexual and physical abuse in childhood creates a great health burden including on mental and reproductive health. A possible link between child abuse and HIV infection has increasingly attracted attention. This paper investigated whether a history of child physical and sexual abuse is associated with HIV infection among adult women.MethodsA cross sectional survey was conducted among 2042 postnatal women (mean age=26y) attending six public primary health care clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe within 6 weeks post-delivery. Clinic records were reviewed for mother’s antenatal HIV status. Participants were interviewed about childhood abuse including physical or sexual abuse before 15 years of age, forced first sex before 16, HIV risk factors such as age difference at first sex before age 16. Multivariate analyses assessed the associations between mother’s HIV status and child physical and sexual abuse while controlling for confounding variables.ResultsMore than one in four (26.6%) reported abuse before the age of 15: 14.6% physical abuse and 9.1% sexual abuse,14.3% reported forced first sex and 9.0% first sex before 16 with someone 5+ years older. Fifteen percent of women tested HIV positive during the recent antenatal care visit. In multivariate analysis, childhood physical abuse (aOR 3.30 95%CI 1.58- 6.90), sexual abuse (3.18 95%CI: 1.64-6.19), forced first sex (aOR 1.42, 95%CI: 1.00-2.02), and 5+ years age difference with first sex partner (aOR 1.66 95%CI 1.09-2.53) were independently associated with HIV infection.ConclusionThis study confirms that child physical and/or sexual abuse increases risk for HIV acquisition. Further research is needed to assess the pathways to HIV acquisition from childhood to adulthood. Prevention of child abuse must form part of the HIV prevention agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document