Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and Its Relationships to Life-Satisfaction Among Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the prevalence of ACEs and the association of ACEs' effects on life-satisfaction among patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: Patients with psychiatric disorders aged ≥ 18 were enrolled. Patients who had dementia and could not read or write in Thai were excluded. Patients were asked to complete demographic, ACEs, and life-satisfaction questions. The study was held in a psychiatric clinic with prompt intervention to help patients who might be sensitive to ACEs questions. Results: 271 patients, with a mean age of 37.6 years (range 18-80 yr.) completed questionnaires. 66.8% were males. 59.4% of patients suffered from substance related disorders. Overall, 45% of patients had ≥ 1 ACE and of these, 5.5% had ≥ 4 ACEs. The top three ACEs were feelings of abandonment by a family, parents divorced or separated, and being a witness of domestic violence. After adjusted confounders, ACEs could significantly increase feeling bored with life; feelings of failure; and feelings of suffering in life; and significantly decrease feelings of life-satisfaction; feelings of ease and happiness; feeling safe; and feeling love in a family; feeling of accepting; and handling of difficult situations. The protective factors of ACEs were living with both parents, living with either of them, and living in a family that could support each other during difficulties. Conclusion: The prevalence of ACEs among patients with psychiatric disorders is quite common. ACEs showed negative relationships with later life-satisfaction and happiness. The graded negative relationships of ACEs to lifesatisfaction found at every ACE that increases. Solutions to decrease the impacts of ACEs are to promote parents to live with their children during their childhood periods and to strengthen family relationship to support each other during difficulties.