Citation

Jaworska-Andryszewska P, Rybakowski JK. Arch. Psychiatry Psychother. 2018; 20(2): 13-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Polish Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.12740/APP/85244

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

AIM: Assessing associations between a type of childhood adversity and clinical features of the illness in patients with bipolar disorder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 52 patients with bipolar disorder aged 47+12 years. A questionnaire on family history and the course of the disorder, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) - Polish version and a dedicated study questionnaire on negative experiences in childhood were employed on patients during a period of remission.

RESULTS: Emotional abuse and neglect were associated with the highest number of unfavorable clinical features of bipolar disorder, predicting psychotic symptoms, suicidal attempts, rapid cycling and anxiety disorders. Emotional abuse was also connected with a lower risk of hypertension. The total result on the CTQ was correlated with psychotic symptoms and rapid cycling, sexual abuse was linked to earlier onset of the illness, and long-term separation from parents was associated with comorbid anxiety disorders and obesity. Some of these associations were sex-dependent. A connection was also found between unfavorable clinical features of bipolar disorder and family history of psychiatric disorders.

DISCUSSION: The results of the study confirm a relationship between negative events in childhood and unfavorable features of bipolar disorder. They also suggest an enduring effect of these events manifesting as somatic conditions in adult bipolar disorder patients.

CONCLUSIONS: In studying patients with bipolar disorder, we found specific associations between the type of childhood adversity and psychiatric and somatic aspects of the illness. Emotional abuse and neglect appear to exert the biggest impact in this respect. © 2018 Polish Psychiatric Association. All Rights Reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; bipolar disorder; Bipolar disorder; sex difference; psychosis; suicide attempt; comorbidity; obesity; major clinical study; social problem; anxiety disorder; family history; child sexual abuse; onset age; hypertension; parental deprivation; Emotional abuse; Article; rapid cycling bipolar disorder; child neglect; emotional abuse; childhood adversity; Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; Childhood adversity