Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Linked to Age of Onset and Reading Recognition in Multiple Sclerosis

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to numerous health conditions but understudied in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study’s objective was to test for the association between ACEs and MS risk and several clinical outcomes. Methods We used a sample of adult, non-Hispanic MS cases (n = 1422) and controls (n = 1185) from Northern California. Eighteen ACEs were assessed including parent divorce, parent death, and abuse. Outcomes included MS risk, age of MS onset, Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale score, and use of a walking aid. Logistic and linear regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) (and beta coefficients) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ACEs operationalized as any/none, counts, individual events, and latent factors/patterns. Results Overall, more MS cases experienced ≥1 ACE compared to controls (54.5% and 53.8%, respectively). After adjusting for sex, birthyear, and race, this small difference was attenuated (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.18). There were no trends of increasing or decreasing odds of MS across ACE count categories. Consistent associations between individual ACEs between ages 0–10 and 11–20 years and MS risk were not detected. Factor analysis identified five latent ACE factors, but their associations with MS risk were approximately null. Age of MS onset and other clinical outcomes were not associated with ACEs after multiple testing correction. Conclusion Despite rich data and multiple approaches to operationalizing ACEs, no consistent and statistically significant effects were observed between ACEs with MS. This highlights the challenges of studying sensitive, retrospective events among adults that occurred decades before data collection.

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T43IMPACT OF FAMILY HISTORY DENSITY AND ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON AGE OF ONSET OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN MULTIPLEX FAMILIES

European Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.08.242 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. S239

Author(s):

Jayant Mahadevan ◽

Amala Someshwar ◽

Bharath Holla ◽

Preethi Pansari Agarwal ◽

Ravi Kumar Nadella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family History ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Psychiatric Illness ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Multiplex Families

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Adverse childhood experiences in families with multiple members diagnosed to have psychiatric illnesses

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867420931157 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (11) ◽

pp. 1086-1094

Author(s):

Amala Someshwar ◽

Bharath Holla ◽

Preeti Pansari Agarwal ◽

Anza Thomas ◽

Anand Jose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Substance Dependence ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

First Degree Relatives ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Psychiatric Conditions

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences are linked to the development of a number of psychiatric illnesses in adulthood. Our study examined the pattern of adverse childhood experiences and their relation to the age of onset of major psychiatric conditions in individuals from families that had ⩾2 first-degree relatives with major psychiatric conditions (multiplex families), identified as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. Methods: Our sample consisted of 509 individuals from 215 families. Of these, 268 were affected, i.e., diagnosed with bipolar disorder ( n = 61), obsessive–compulsive disorder ( n = 58), schizophrenia ( n = 52), substance dependence ( n = 59) or co-occurring diagnoses ( n = 38), while 241 were at-risk first-degree relatives who were either unaffected ( n = 210) or had other depressive or anxiety disorders ( n = 31). All individuals were evaluated using the Adverse Childhood Experiences – International Questionnaire and total adverse childhood experiences exposure and severity scores were calculated. Results: It was seen that affected males, as a group, had the greatest adverse childhood experiences exposure and severity scores in our sample. A Cox mixed effects model fit by gender revealed that a higher total adverse childhood experiences severity score was associated with significantly increased risk for an earlier age of onset of psychiatric diagnoses in males. A similar model that evaluated the interaction of diagnosis revealed an earlier age of onset in obsessive–compulsive disorder and substance dependence, but not in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Conclusion: Our study indicates that adverse childhood experiences were associated with an earlier onset of major psychiatric conditions in men and individuals diagnosed with obsessive–compulsive disorder and substance dependence. Ongoing longitudinal assessments in first-degree relatives from these families are expected to identify mechanisms underlying this relationship.

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Adverse childhood experiences in families with multiple members diagnosed to have psychiatric illnesses

10.1101/745521 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amala Someshwar ◽

Bharath Holla ◽

Preeti Pansari Agarwal ◽

Anza Thomas ◽

Anand Jose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Substance Dependence ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Psychiatric Illnesses ◽

First Degree Relatives ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Psychiatric Conditions

AbstractObjectiveAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to the development of a number of psychiatric illnesses in adulthood. Our study examined the pattern of ACEs and their relation to the age of onset (AAO) of major psychiatric conditions in individuals from families that had ≥ 2 first degree relatives with major psychiatric conditions (multiplex families) identified as part of an ongoing longitudinal study.MethodsOur sample consisted of 509 individuals from 215 families. Of these, 268 were affected i.e diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BPAD) (n=61), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (n=58), schizophrenia (n=52), substance dependence (SUD) (n=59), or co-occurring diagnoses (n=38); while 241 were at-risk first degree relatives (FDRs) who were either unaffected (n=210) or had other depressive or anxiety disorders (n=31). All individuals were evaluated using the Adverse Childhood Experiences – International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and ACE binary and frequency scores were calculated.ResultsIt was seen that affected males, as a group, had the greatest ACE scores in our sample. A cox mixed-effects model fit by gender revealed that higher ACE binary and frequency scores were associated with significantly increased risk for an earlier AAO of psychiatric diagnoses in males. A similar model that evaluated the effect of diagnosis revealed an earlier AAO in OCD and SUD, but not in schizophrenia and BPAD.ConclusionsOur study indicates that ACEs brought forward the onset of major psychiatric conditions in men and in individuals diagnosed with OCD and SUD. Ongoing longitudinal assessments in FDRs from these families are expected to identify mechanisms underlying this relationship.

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