The effects of adverse childhood experiences on depression and suicidal behaviors are partially mediated by neuroticism: A subclinical manifestation of major depression

Abstract

IntroductionNeuroticism, a personality trait, can predict major depressive disorder (MDD). The current study aims to determine whether a) neuroticism is a feature of the acute state of MDD, including suicidal behaviors (SB); and b) adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with neuroticism in MDD.MethodsThis study included 133 participants, 67 healthy controls and 66 MDD patients, and assessed the Big 5 Inventory (BFI), ACEs using the ACE Questionnaire, and the phenome of depression using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) scores to assess current SB.ResultsNeuroticism was significantly higher in MDD than controls, and it explained 64.9% of the variance in the depression phenome (a latent vector extracted from HAM-D, BDI, STAI, and current SB scores). The other BFI domains had much less (extraversion, agreeableness) or no effect (openness, conscientiousness). One latent vector could be extracted from the phenome, lifetime dysthymia, lifetime anxiety disorders and neuroticism scores. Neglect (physical and emotional) and abuse (physical, neglect and sexual) account for approximately 30% of the variance in this latent vector. Partial Least Squares analysis showed that the effects of neglect on the phenome were partially mediated by neuroticism, whereas the effects of abuse were completely mediated by neuroticism.DiscussionNeuroticism (trait) and the MDD phenome (state) are both manifestations of the same latent core, with neuroticism being a subclinical manifestation of MDD.

Exploring the Relationship between Neuroticism and Perinatal Depressive Symptoms: Findings from a 2-Year, Multicenter Study in Italy

“…In addition, the findings showed statistically significant differences in the psychological measures, highlighting a disadvantage in the relationships, quality of life, coping strategies, and resilience among those women reporting high levels of neuroticism. Our findings were in line with other works that have provided evidence that neuroticism plays an important role in the onset of depressive symptoms and greatly contributes to individual vulnerability to affective disorders [42,43]. In fact, a wide body of international literature has described neuroticism as a predisposing factor for major depression and anxiety disorders [44], for more stressful experience of life events, and for higher reactivity to the effects of adversity [45].…”

Major depressive disorder, neuroticism, suicidal behaviors, and depression severity are all associated with neurotoxic immune networks and their intricate interactions with metabolic syndrome

“…A Thai translation of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) (John and Srivastava 1999) was utilized to evaluate five personality traits (Luangsurong 2016). The raw scores of the neuroticism dimension were utilized in the current investigation, given its significant contribution to the MDD phenome (Jirakran, Vasupanrajit et al 2023).…”

Distress symptoms of old age and mild cognitive impairment are two distinct dimensions in older adults without major depression: effects of adverse childhood experiences and negative life events

“…The positive contributors to this principal component encompass symptoms of distress (PSS), anxiety (HADS-A and STAI), depression (HADS-D and TGDS) and neuroticism. Earlier research conducted by Jirakran, Vasupanrajit, Tunvirachaisakul and Maes 23 revealed that one principal component or factor could be extracted from anxiety, depression and neuroticism scores in adults with major depression. Neuroticism has been linked with mood and anxiety symptoms in both clinical 50 and non-clinical [51][52][53] research cohorts, as well as in cross-sectional investigations 54,55 .…”

“…The third major finding of this study is that ACE and NLE (especially health and money) have a highly significant impact on the DSOA, and no effects at all on the mCoDy domain scores. ACE and NLE are significant risk factors for depression and other psychological disorders in adulthood 23,24,65 . Kraaij, Arensman and Spinhoven 27 reported that almost all NLE have a small but significant association with depression.…”

“…Educational attainment is associated with depressive symptoms of aging 21 , and older adults with lower education attainment showed to have higher depressive symptoms 22 . Recently, Jirakran, Vasupanrajit, Tunvirachaisakul and Maes 23 detected that in adult depression one factor could be extracted from increased depression, perceived stress, neuroticism, and anxiety scores, indicating that these domains are all manifestations of the underlying construct. However, there are no data whether in older adults one factor may be extracted from stress, anxiety, depression, and neuroticism domain scores.…”