Adverse Childhood Experiences in Patients With Neurologic Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001134
Author(s):  
Adys Mendizabal ◽  
Cody L Nathan ◽  
Pouya Khankhanian ◽  
Marissa Anto ◽  
Cynthia Clyburn ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:To describe the prevalence of high adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among neurology outpatients and determine their association with healthcare utilization rates, and comorbid medical and psychiatric disease.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of adults seen for outpatient neurology follow-up at the University of Pennsylvania. Participants completed the ACE questionnaire, and depression/ anxiety screenings. Healthcare utilization metrics (ED visits, hospitalizations, and outpatient calls) were obtained for all participants. High ACE scores were defined as a score ≥ 4. The prevalence of high ACE scores in our cohort was compared to US historical controls. Statistical associations adjusted for age, gender, and race/ethnicity.Results:198 patients enrolled in the study. Neurology patients were more likely to have elevated ACE scores compared to US population estimates (23.7% vs 12.6%, p<0.01). High ACE scores were associated with increased ED utilization (OR=21 CI [5.8-76.0] , p<0.01), hospitalizations (OR=5.2, CI [1.7-15.0], p<0.01), and telephone encounters (OR 3, CI [1.1-8.2], p<0.05). High ACEs were also associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities (OR 5.8, CI [2.0-17.0], p<0.01 and OR 4.5, CI [2.1-9.6], p< 0.01), as well as high depression and anxiety scores (OR= 6.9, CI [2.8-17.0], p<0.01, and OR=4.3, [CI 1.7-11.0], p<0.01).Conclusion:Patients with neurological conditions are more likely to have high ACEs than the US population which was associated with higher rates of healthcare utilization, increased number of medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and higher anxiety and depression scores. Addressing ACEs may be a way to improve the health outcomes of patients with neurological conditions

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Haaris Sheikh ◽  
Sadiq Naveed ◽  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Ihtisham Tahir Jaura

Introduction: The present study explores the association of adverse childhood experiences with impulsivity and functional identity among Pakistani adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 260 Pakistani medical students aged 18 and above were approached. A consent form, a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, and an English versions of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale, Functions of Identity scale (FIS) and Barratt’s Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) was employed in this study. All data were analyzed in SPSS v. 20. Results: A total of 122 (52.6%) of respondents had experienced at least one adverse childhood experience. According to linear regression analysis, ACE scores were significantly associated with increasing age, increasing order in birth, lower scores on functional identity structure and non-planning impulsivity, and higher scores on future (functional identity) and motor impulsivity. Conclusions: A high proportion of Pakistani medical students reported adverse childhood experiences, which lead to impulsive behaviors and poor functional identities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 076-083
Author(s):  
Tsehay Mekonnen ◽  
Necho Mogesie ◽  
Belete Asmare ◽  
Mekonnen Werkua

Background: Alcohol and chat use during adolescence is associated with academic and health problems, including abuse or dependence in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early initiation of alcohol and chat use among school-going adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 546 school-going adolescents. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to assess ACEs, Alcohol and chat use was assessed by questions prepared by the authors. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between overall ACE score and alcohol use and the potential moderating effects of confounders. Results: prevalence of chat chewing behavior was 26.6% followed by alcohol use 20%. A total of 66.2% of participants reported at least one ACE, and 5.93% reported four or more ACEs. High/Multiple ACEs (ACEs=1-3 and above 3) were significantly associated with increased alcohol use behaviors (AOR=1.491(1.072-3.078) and (AOR=3.171(1.330-7.560) respectively and increased chat use behaviors by 4.92 times (AOR=4.92, 95%CI=2.640-8.432) and 11.022 times (AOR=11.022, 95%CI=1.230-25.560) respectively controlling other factors. Conclusion: ACEs were significantly associated with risk behaviors, alcohol and chat use may lead to poor health, and educational outcomes among adolescent students and numbers of ACEs have graded association. Social support, sex, residence, parent educational status, and current level of depressive symptoms were significant modulating factors, which parents, school teachers, psychologists, and adolescent health care providers should give the concern to decrease the effect on school-going adolescents.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0244696
Author(s):  
Sven-Olof Andersson ◽  
Eva-Maria Annerbäck ◽  
Hans Peter Söndergaard ◽  
Johan Hallqvist ◽  
Per Kristiansson

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common and known to have consequences for individuals’ adult health, leading to a higher risk of illness. The aims of the study were to investigate the ACEs in couples, to examine the extent of assortative mating and to investigate the association between the relationship of the load of ACEs within couples and health outcomes, one year after the birth of a common child. At antenatal clinics in Sweden 818 couples were recruited and investigated one year after the birth of a common child answering a questionnaire including the exposure to ten ACE categories and several outcome variables. In total, 59% of both mothers and partners reported exposure to at least one of the ten ACE categories. Among the mothers 11% and among the partners 9% reported exposure to ≥4 ACE categories (p = 0.12). There was a correlation between the numbers of ACE categories reported by the mothers and their partners (Spearman’s ρ = 0.18, p<0.001). This association pertained to six of the ten ACE categories. In multiple logistic regression analyses, there were associations between the ACE exposure load and unfavourable outcomes among the mothers, the partners and within the couples. Unfavourable outcomes concerning health were most prominent in couples where both members reported exposures to ≥4 ACE categories (self-rated bad health (OR 13.82; CI 2.75–69.49), anxiety (OR 91.97; CI 13.38–632.07), depression (OR 17.42; CI 2.14–141.78) and perceived stress (OR 11.04; CI 2.79–43.73)). Mothers exposed to ACEs tend to have partners also exposed to ACEs. Exposure to ACEs was associated with bad health and unfavourable life conditions within the couples, especially among couples where both members reported exposure to multiple ACEs. These results should stimulate incentives to find, to support and to treat individuals and couples where both members report multiple ACEs. The consequences for the children should be further studied as well as how these families should be treated in health care and society.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Haaris Sheikh ◽  
Sadiq Naveed ◽  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Ihtisham Tahir Jaura

Introduction: The present study explores the association of adverse childhood experiences with impulsivity and functional identity among Pakistani adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 260 Pakistani medical students aged 18 and above were approached. A consent form, a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, and an English versions of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale, Functions of Identity scale (FIS) and Barratt’s Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) was employed in this study. All data were analyzed in SPSS v. 20. Results: A total of 122 (52.6%) of respondents had experienced at least one adverse childhood experience. Verbal, physical, sexual adverse events and poor support and affection from family were the most reported adverse events. ACE scores yielded a significantly positive association with cognitive stability, perseverance and motor impulsivity on the Barrat’s impulsivity scale. Whereas, it yielded negative association with structure and harmony subscales of the functional identity as well as cognitive complexity subscale of the impulsivity scale. Conclusions: A high proportion of Pakistani medical students reported adverse childhood experiences, which lead to impulsive behaviors and poor functional identities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaoluwa Samson Agbaje ◽  
Chinwe Patience Nnaji ◽  
Evelyn Nwanabe Nwagu ◽  
Cylia Nkechi Iweama ◽  
Prince Christian Ifeanachor Umoke ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) constitutes public health problems linked to adverse mental outcomes such as psychological distress during adulthood. This study examines the prevalence of ACEs and psychological distress and explores the association between ACEs and psychological distress and demographic factors among young adults. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 330 students from May 2018 to July 2018. The participants completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and the sociodemographic profile scale. We used descriptive statistics to describe the prevalence of ACEs and psychological distress in our sample. After adjusting for the demographic covariates, ACEs’ association with psychological distress was determined using binary and multivariate logistic regressions. Results A total of 203 students with a mean age of 20.76 ± 2.73 years completed the study. The total mean ACE score was 4.58 ± 1.59, and the total mean psychological distress score was 20.76 ± 6.31. Most of the participants (86.7%) experienced ACEs, 14.8% reported experiencing one ACE, 30.5% reported experiencing 2–3 ACEs, and 41.3% reported experiencing 4+ ACEs. Further, about 85% of the youth have experienced at least one form of sexual abuse during childhood, and females reported a higher number of ACEs than males. Sexual abuse (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 2.36, 7.65), physical neglect (OR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.57, 5.31), overall ACE exposure (OR = 6.66; 95% CI: 2.41, 18.42), having 1 ACE (OR = 4.40; 95% CI: 1.32, 14.70), having 2–3 ACEs (OR = 4.13; 95% CI: 1.39, 12.29), and having 4+ (OR = 11.67; 95% CI: 3.95, 34.45) were significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusions ACEs are prevalent among young adults and are associated with psychological distress in adulthood. Furthermore, parental factors are associated with ACEs and psychological distress. Thus, implementation of school, community-and facility-based routine mental health screening programs is essential for prompt identification, prevention, and treatment of youth with childhood adversities and poor mental health outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mekonnen Tsehay ◽  
Mogese Necho ◽  
Asmare Belete

Abstract Background : Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were associated with poor health outcomes and health-threatening behaviors later in life. The objective of the present study was to investigate associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early initiation of alcohol and chat use among school going adolescents.Methods : A cross-sectional study was performed with 546 school going adolescents. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to assess ACEs, including emotional, physical, and sexual forms of abuse and neglect, as well as household dysfunction. Alcohol and chat use was assessed by questions prepared by authors. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between overall ACE score and alcohol use and the potential moderating effects of confounders.Results : prevalence of chat chewing behavior was 26.6% followed by alcohol use 20%, and small number of student’s use cigarette smoking and other illicit drug users (0.9%) (ganja and Shisha) each. A total of 66.2% of participants reported at least one ACE, and 5.93% reported four or more ACEs. Increased ACE scores were associated with increased risks of drinking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.09, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.00–1.09), chronic disease (AOR =1.17, 95% CI: 1.06–1.28), depression (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27–1.48), and posttraumatic stress disorder (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.23–1.42) in adulthood. After adjusting for confounding factors, the individual ACE components had different impacts on risk behavior and health, particularly on poor mental health outcomes in adulthood.Conclusions : Alcohol and Chat use was prevalent and public health concern among school going adolescents. ACEs were significantly associated with risk behaviors, alcohol and chat use may lead poor health and educational outcomes among adolescent students and numbers of ACEs have graded association. Social support, sex, residence, parent educational status and current level of depressive symptoms were significant modulating factors, which parents, school teachers, psychologists and adolescent health care providers should give concern to decrease the effect on school going adolescents.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document