Citation

Kraan TC, Velthorst E, Themmen M, Valmaggia L, Kempton MJ, McGuire P, van Os J, Rutten BPF, Smit F, de Haan L, van der Gaag M. Schizophr. Bull. 2018; 44(3): 584-592.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/schbul/sbw162

PMID

28666366

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment has been associated with a wide range of mental disorders in adulthood. Whether child maltreatment is specifically associated with psychosis risk in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis, or leads to a general vulnerability for overall psychopathology in the UHR stage remains unclear. The present study examines the association between child maltreatment and transition to psychosis and other mental disorders.

METHODS: The sample consisted of 259 UHR individuals from the EUropean network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. Participants were followed-up for 2 years to assess clinical outcome. Clinical outcome was assessed at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after baseline. Child maltreatment before the age of 17 years was assessed at baseline.

RESULTS: Our findings show that a history of emotional abuse was associated with an increased risk for transition to psychosis (OR = 3.78, 95% CI = 1.17 to 12.39, P =.027). Apart from psychosis, a history of physical abuse was associated with depressive disorder (OR = 4.92, 95% CI = 2.12 to 11.39, P =.001), post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.10 to 3.86, P =.023), panic disorder (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.00 to 3.99, P =.048) and social phobia (OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.18 to 5.16, P =.016) at follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in the UHR stage child maltreatment is a pluripotent risk factor for developing psychosis, depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and social phobia in adulthood.

Language: en

Keywords

child maltreatment; clinical outcome; psychosis; ultra high risk