Association of Childhood Trauma Exposure With Adult Psychiatric Disorders and Functional Outcomes

Abstract

Key Points Question Are adult psychiatric and functional outcomes associated with cumulative childhood trauma exposure? Findings In this cohort study, cumulative childhood trauma was associated with higher rates of adult psychiatric disorders and poorer functional outcomes even after adjusting for a broad range of other childhood risk factors for these outcomes, including psychiatric functioning and family adversities and hardships. Meaning Cumulative childhood trauma exposure is associated with negative outcomes in health and functioning in adulthood.

Adverse childhood experiences: associations with educational attainment and adolescent health, and the role of family and socioeconomic factors. Analysis of a prospective cohort study

“…The degree to which previous studies have adjusted for potential confounding variables varies considerably, with some studies making no attempt at adjustment. [6] Studies that do adjust for a range of factors differ in whether this adjustment leaves associations largely unchanged[31] or results in considerable attenuation. [1]…”

“…We found no evidence to support this hypothesis; associations were of similar magnitude in manual and non-manual social class families and in families with high and low levels of maternal education. Other studies have also found no differences in associations between ACE and outcomes according to socioeconomic position[32] or race[31], and one study found either no difference in ACE-outcome associations according to income, or stronger associations in high-income groups. [14] Together, these findings support universal ACE prevention or support interventions, rather than focusing ACE initiatives only in low socioeconomic population groups.…”

Beyond the looking glass: recent advances in understanding the impact of environmental exposures on neuropsychiatric disease

“…In the broadest sense, environmental exposures can be viewed as nongenetic factors that include psychosocial factors, diet and nutrition, pharmaceuticals and medical interventions, health conditions, infectious agents, environmental chemicals, and physical features of the environment. The contribution of some of these broadly defined factors, such as drugs of abuse and developmental risk factors (e.g., preterm birth and early-life adversity), to the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric abnormalities have been well-studied (and discussed elsewhere) [4][5][6][7] compared to non-pharmaceutical chemicals that individuals are exposed to such as pesticides, metals, and air pollutants. In some cases, work in model systems has facilitated exploration of how environmental perturbations impact brain processes relevant to mental health.…”

Effect of trauma-informed care on hair cortisol concentration in youth welfare staff and client physical aggression towards staff: results of a longitudinal study

“…Furthermore, traumatic experiences of the children and adolescents may increase the risk of escalating interactions and physical violence against youth welfare staff [34,35]. Much of the abundant literature on the association between traumatic experiences and auto-aggression has come to the conclusion that traumatic experiences in childhood are a prominent risk factor for aggressive behaviour and conduct problems throughout the course of a survivors' life [12,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. The close correlation could be explained, for example, by the misinterpretation of specific social interactions [44][45][46][47][48], model learning, deficits in implicit and explicit emotion regulation [49], especially the selfregulation of aggressive impulses, deficits in the ability to mentalise and be empathic [50] .…”