Citation

Ackner S, Skeate A, Patterson P, Neal A. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2013; 22(9): 1032-1049.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2013.837132

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article evaluates the published empirical findings on childhood emotional abuse and its proposed relationship with psychotic symptoms. Research and governmental policy indicates that emotional abuse is present in all forms of abuse and neglect, suggesting it is the form of abuse most frequently linked to mental health problems. Literature searches were conducted in 3 peer-reviewed electronic databases and relevant papers were reviewed.

RESULTS suggest childhood emotional abuse is statistically related to psychosis in adulthood. This adds tentative support to the hypothesis that emotional abuse is related to psychotic experiences; in particular to hallucinations and persecutory delusions. A number of studies also provide tentative support to the dose-response effect proposed between cumulative trauma and a greater risk of positive psychotic symptoms. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

human; child maltreatment; systematic review; child abuse; schizophrenia; psychosis; suicide attempt; major depression; disease severity; article; personality disorder; mental health service; cognitive therapy; psychotrauma; self concept; delusion; child sexual abuse; parental behavior; negative syndrome; childhood injury; positive syndrome; physical abuse; auditory hallucination; cannabis smoking; persecutory delusion; child neglect; emotional abuse; Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; Dissociative Experiences Scale; psychotic experiences