The association between childhood trauma, parental bonding and depressive symptoms and interpersonal functioning in depression and bipolar disorder

Abstract

Objectives. This study explores rates of a history of childhood trauma in adult patients with bipolar disorder and depression and the impact of such trauma and parental bonding patterns on depressive mood and interpersonal functioning at the time of assessment. Methods.A cross-sectional design was used and a sample of 49 participants was recruited from a mental health outpatient service in Northern Ireland. Data were subject to correlations, one-way analysis of variance and hierarchal regression analyses. A cut-off point of r = ± 0.25 was used to select variables for inclusion in the hierarchal regression analyses.Results. High rates of childhood trauma were present in both samples: 74% in bipolar disorder and 82% in depression. Childhood trauma and poor parental bonding (with mother) were significant predictors of higher rates of current inter-episode depressive mood and interpersonal difficulties.Conclusions. This finding adds to the evidence that routine assessment of early childhood experience is likely to prove helpful in clinical care.

Parental Bonding Styles in Schizophrenia, Depressive and Bipolar Patients: A Comparative Study

“…In other words, parents of bipolar patients are more protective and controlling. This result is consistent with the studies in European and Latin American countries despite the difference in the cultural and social characteristics [12,16]. In another study carried out in Japan, subjects who experienced "paternal affectionless control" displayed less ability to adapt with anxiety and stress, leading to mental disorders in these individuals [23].…”

“…A warm relationship with adequate parental care and control (optimum parental bonding) plays an important role in the development children's mental health. On the contrary, dysfunctional parenting leads to problems in interpersonal relationships and psychiatric disorders caused by the cold relationship between parents and children, inadequate care, and excessive control or rejection of children [12]. As a leading researcher in this eld, Parker has introduced the dual styles of parental bonding in a continuum.…”

<p>Influence of Parenting Quality and Neuroticism on Perceived Job Stressors and Psychological and Physical Stress Response in Adult Workers from the Community</p>

“…23 Poor parenting styles and child abuse in childhood have been reported to affect depressive symptoms in adulthood. [24][25][26][27] The association between parenting styles and neuroticism has also been reported. Certain personality traits (extraversion and neuroticism) have been shown to mediate the effects of parenting styles on depressive symptoms in the general adult population.…”

Psychometrische Kennwerte einer deutschen Übersetzung des Parental Bonding Instrument

“…Die Beziehung zwischen einem Kind und seinen Eltern ist nicht nur entscheidend für die frühen Entwicklungsphasen, sondern stellt auch entscheidende Weichen für das spätere Leben [1,2]. So beeinflusst die Qualität dieser Bindungserfahrung die psychosoziale Entwicklung in der Kindheit ebenso wie die körperliche und psychische Gesundheit im Erwachsenenalter [3,4] und kann sowohl Stress auslösend als auch die Stressreaktion abmildern [5]. Diese Bindung ist -neben individuellen Unterschieden im Bindungsverhalten des Kindes -besonders durch den elterliche Erziehungsstil geprägt, der sich aus mehreren Dimensionen zusammensetzt [6,7], darunter emotionale Aspekte wie Fürsorge und Wärme, sowie kognitive und Verhaltensaspekte wie Autonomieförderung oder Kontrolle und Überfürsorglichkeit [8].…”

“…Diese berichten häufiger Schwierigkeiten im Umgang mit Stress und einen schlechteren psychischen Gesundheitszustand [10]. Diese negativen Bindungs-und Erziehungserfahrungen begünstigen die Entwicklung psychischer Erkrankungen wie Depressionen [4] und Essstörungen, aber auch Übergewicht [11] und sind darüber hinaus mit dem Therapieerfolg assoziiert [12]. Verschiedene Theorien erklären diesen Zusammenhang u. a. mit neurobiologischen Veränderungen im Stresssystem [13].…”