Abstract
Background Both childhood trauma and negative memory bias are associated with the onset and severity level of several psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Studies on these risk factors, however, generally use homogeneous noncomorbid samples. Hence, studies in naturalistic psychiatric samples are lacking. Moreover, we know little about the quantitative relationship between the frequency of traumatic childhood events, strength of memory bias and number of comorbid psychiatric disorders; the latter being an index of severity. The current study examined the association of childhood trauma and negative memory bias with psychopathology in a large naturalistic psychiatric patient sample. Methods Frequency of traumatic childhood events (emotional neglect, psychological-, physical- and sexual abuse) was assessed using a questionnaire in a sample of 252 adult psychiatric patients with no psychotic or bipolar-I disorder and no cognitive disorder as main diagnosis. Patients were diagnosed for DSM-IV Axis-I and Axis-II disorders using a structured clinical interview. This allowed for the assessment of comorbidity between disorders. Negative memory bias for verbal stimuli was measured using a computer task. Results Linear regression models revealed that the frequency of childhood trauma as well as negative memory bias was positively associated with psychiatric comorbidity, separately and above and beyond each other (all p < .01). Conclusions The results indicate that childhood trauma and negative memory bias may be of importance for a broader spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses, besides the frequently studied affective disorders. Importantly, frequently experiencing traumatic events during childhood increases the risk of comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Highlights
The lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) Axis-I disorders is 46% (Kessler et al, 2005)
The DSM-IV diagnoses were not available for one participant; a further eleven participants did not fill out the Netherlands Mental health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS)-childhood trauma questionnaire, and one participant did not complete the sociodemographic questionnaire, resulting in a final sample of 252 participants for analyses
A higher childhood trauma index score was significantly associated with the presence of comorbidity
Summary
The lifetime prevalence of DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) Axis-I disorders is 46% (Kessler et al, 2005). More knowledge about factors that influence the development, maintenance, recurrence, and co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders can increase our understanding of psychiatric pathogenesis and might help in developing better diagnostic instruments, treatment options, and (relapse) prevention interventions Both childhood trauma and negative memory bias are associated with the onset and severity level of several psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Studies on these risk factors, generally use homogeneous noncomorbid samples. Patients were diagnosed for DSM-IV Axis-I and Axis-II disorders using a structured clinical interview This allowed for the assessment of comorbidity between disorders. Frequently experiencing traumatic events during childhood increases the risk of comorbid psychiatric disorders
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