Citation

Bauer R, Bauer M. Nervenheilkd. 2016; 35(7-8): 481-484.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/s-0037-1616409

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Childhood physical abuse is associated with an increased risk for the development of substance dependency, psychotic disorders, depression and anxiety disorders. The role of childhood trauma in the etiology and course of bipolar disorder has been a neglected research area. Due to more recent research in this area, there is increasing evidence that childhood trauma represent a risk factor for bipolar disorder. For example, a case-control study assessing more than 200 bipolar patients showed that multiple traumas (eg, emotional and sexual abuse, emotional neglect) are more frequent in patients with bipolar disorder than in healthy controls. In a recent large-scale study, earlier age at onset of bipolar illness, suicide attempts, rapid cycling, and an increased number of depressive episodes each had significant associations with at least 1 subtype of childhood trauma (emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional neglect). Multivariate analyses investigating trauma variables together showed that both emotional and sexual abuse were independent predictors of lower age at onset and history of suicide attempts while sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of rapid cycling. The main clinical implication is to systematically assess childhood trauma in patients with bipolar disorders, particularly in those with an instable course. The challenge is to fill the gap between clinical research and routine practice, since recommendations for managing this specific population are lacking. © Schattauer 2016.

Language: de

Keywords

Risk factors; human; Childhood trauma; sexual abuse; child; child abuse; bipolar disorder; Bipolar disorder; depression; psychosis; Abuse; suicide attempt; Age of onset; risk factor; substance abuse; clinical research; clinical practice; disease course; anxiety disorder; psychotrauma; onset age; case control study; physical abuse; Article; child neglect; medical history; emotional abuse; Neglect; childhood trauma