Emotional Neglect Scores Research Articles

Exploring the correlation between childhood trauma experiences, inflammation, and brain activity in first-episode, drug-naive major depressive disorder.

Childhood trauma experiences and inflammation are pivotal factors in the onset and perpetuation of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, research on brain mechanisms linking childhood trauma experiences and inflammation to depression remains insufficient and inconclusive. Resting-state fMRI scans were performed on fifty-six first-episode, drug-naive MDD patients and sixty healthy controls (HCs). A whole-brain functional network was constructed by thresholding 246 brain regions, and connectivity and network properties were calculated. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in MDD patients, and childhood trauma experiences were evaluated through the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Negative correlations were observed between CTQ total (r = -0.28, p = 0.047), emotional neglect (r = -0.286, p = 0.042) scores, as well as plasma IL-6 levels (r = -0.294, p = 0.036), with mean decreased functional connectivity (FC) in MDD patients. Additionally, physical abuse exhibited a positive correlation with the nodal clustering coefficient of the left thalamus in patients (r = 0.306, p = 0.029). Exploratory analysis indicated negative correlations between CTQ total and emotional neglect scores and mean decreased FC in MDD patients with lower plasma IL-6 levels (n = 28), while these correlations were nonsignificant in MDD patients with higher plasma IL-6 levels (n = 28). This finding enhances our understanding of the correlation between childhood trauma experiences, inflammation, and brain activity in MDD, suggesting potential variations in their underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Effects of childhood emotional neglect on pain empathy: Evidence from event-related potentials

Emotional neglect during childhood was associated with adverse long-term consequences for mental health and may impact neural responses by altering the trajectories of brain development. Pain empathy, a crucial social adaptive ability that recognizes and understands another person's pain, was found to be correlated with early developmental experiences. However, the impact of emotional neglect on neural responses related to pain empathy remains inadequately explored. Utilizing childhood trauma questionnaires and event-related potential (ERP), the electrical response of the brain to a specific stimulus, this study investigated the impact of emotional neglect experiences on pain empathy neural responses among 62 Chinese college students. The results of correlation analysis demonstrated a significant association between childhood emotional neglect scores and the empathic N2 responses (defined as pain minus non-pain conditions), representing the early emotional sharing process of pain empathy. The findings clarified the effects of specific forms of traumatic experiences on individuals' social functioning and laid the foundation for further exploring the impact of trauma on neural responses.

Investigation of the relationship between childhood traumas, psychological resilience, cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation skills in adults

Objectives: This paper looked into the relation between childhood traumas, resilience, cognitive flexibility, and adult emotion regulation skills in adults. Methods: The sample, which is based on the relational screening model, includes 395 participants (female: 202, male: 193). Sociodemographic Information Form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Scale and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were applied to the participants to obtain the research data. Data collection was carried out online (google forms) through convenient sampling. The t-test was used to compare the study's quantitative data, and Pearson Correlation analysis was utilized to test the relationship between the scales. Multiple Linear Regression analysis was used for predictive analysis and finally PROCESS was used for mediator role analysis. Results: The investigation's findings revealed that there is a statistically significant difference between the scores of the two groups compared. Findings showed that there is a moderately positive correlation between acceptance and CTQ scores, a weak positive correlation between acceptance and emotional abuse scores, a weak positive correlation with physical abuse scores, a weak positive correlation with physical neglect scores, a weak positive correlation with emotional neglect scores and weak positive correlation with sexual abuse scores. A weak and negative correlation exists between Putting into Perspective and the CTQ, an even weaker and negative correlation exists between Putting into Perspective and the Emotional Neglect and Sexual Abuse scores. Rumination scores have a weak and negative relationship with emotional abuse scores. Conclusions: In order to prevent them from serving as the foundation for difficulties with adult mental health, it is crucial to understand the relationship between traumatic childhood events and psychological resilience, cognitive flexibility, and cognitive emotion regulation techniques. In order to assist people, analyze their thoughts and feelings, be aware of negative coping mechanisms, rigid, inflexible cognitive styles, and negative thinking patterns, clinical psychology practices will benefit from research on these characteristics.

Emotional neglect and parents' adverse childhood events.

Emotional neglect means that the child's emotional and developmental needs are not fulfilled by the parents or other caregivers. Adverse childhood events (ACEs) are a risk factor for mental health problems and impaired parenting skills. The objective here was to examine whether parents' ACEs increase the child's risk of experiencing emotional neglect. The participants in the present study were members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986). Emotional neglect experiences were measured in 190 members of this cohort by means of the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS), and ACEs in both parents were measured with a specific questionnaire. A linear regression model was used to examine the association between parents' ACEs and the children's emotional neglect scores. The children's mean emotional neglect score was 8.11 on a scale from 5 to 25. There was no significant difference between males (mean 8.01) and females (mean 8.19). Only father's ACEs were associated with child's emotional neglect score. In the linear regression model, the children's emotional neglect scores increased by 0.3 points for father's ACE. Our findings suggest that father's ACEs may increase the child's risk of experiencing emotional neglect. It seems that childhood adversities are transferred from parents to children, but larger samples would be needed to confirm these findings.

The evaluation of the relationship between childhood traumas and smoking addiction

Introduction. Data about the relationship between childhood traumas and cigarette smoking are scarce. In this study, the relationship between childhood abuse and smoking addiction was evaluated in adults. Material and methods. This research was carried out with the participation of 216 individuals (82 [38%] women and 134 [62%] men) over the age of 18 who applied to the Family Medicine Out-patient Clinics of a tertiary hospital. They were asked to answer the socio-demographic questions as well as the questionnaire forms containing the Fagerström Nicotine Addiction Test (FNAT) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Results. The median age at which men start smoking was significantly lower than that of women (17 vs. 19 years; p = 0.007). Men have higher rates of physical neglect than women (p = 0.001). No significant difference was found between the exposure of individuals to emotional, physical, sexual neglect and abuse and nicotine addiction levels after adjustment for age, gender and education level. However, a significant negative correlation was found between the FNAT score and the CTQ total score, emotional abuse score, physical neglect score, and emotional neglect score. Conclusion. Contrary to the results in the literature, we did not find a directly proportional relationship between adverse childhood experiences and smoking addiction. This finding suggests that further studies should be done on whether adverse childhood experiences may lead not only to cigarette addiction but also to other serious conditions such as substance abuse, mental and physical health problems. Determinants of child maltreatment are multi-systemic, it therefore, makes sense that in counties with different social, cultural, and economic conditions, the consequences of child maltreatment will also be different.

The association between childhood trauma and the age of onset in drug-free bipolar depression

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and clinical correlates in bipolar depression. MethodsA total of 61 bipolar depression patients were enrolled and assessed based on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Patient Health Questionaire-15 (PHQ-15), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) systems. ResultsThe age of onset in bipolar depression patients with either trauma or abuse or neglect was significantly lower than in patients without these factors. There were statistically significant negative correlations between the age of onset and the number of different trauma types in bipolar depression patients. Multiple variable regression showed a significant association between the number of trauma types and the age of onset. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between the age of onset with CTQ-SF total score (CTS), emotional abuse score and emotional neglect score, and physical neglect score. However, multiple variable regression analysis revealed that there was a significant association between emotional abuse score and the age of onset of bipolar depression patients.Conclusion: Our results suggest that childhood trauma may be associated with physical symptoms and the age of onset in bipolar depression patients.

Intra/interpersonal Functions of Non-suicidal Self-injury in Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder: The Role of Emotion Regulation, Alexithymia, and Childhood Traumas

Objective: This study examines non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior, its functions and associated factors like childhood trauma, alexithymia, empathy, and emotion regulation, in adolescents suffering from depression. Method: The study sample consisted of 67 adolescents; 11 boys (mean age = 14.94 ±1.45) and 56 girls (mean age = 14.72 ±1.48), all with major depressive disorder. Standard tests and measurements were used for data collection, including Beck Depression Inventory for identifying depression symptoms; Brief Symptom Inventory for screening psychiatric symptoms; Inventory of Statements About Self Injury (ISAS) to identify the lifetime frequency and functions of NSSI in subjects; Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to evaluate sexual, physical, and emotional abuse plus childhood neglect; Toronto Alexithymia Scale to assess difficulties in identifying and/or describing feelings; Basic Empathy Scale to measure empathy levels within the framework of basic emotions; and the Difficulty of Emotion Regulation Scale to determine the awareness and clarity of emotional response. Results: It was found that 64.1% of adolescents studied have had at least one NSSI to date. The most frequent intrapersonal functions associated with NSSI were Affect Regulation and Marking Distress, and the most common interpersonal functions were Toughness and Interpersonal Boundaries. According to a correlation analysis with ISAS scores, Affect Regulation was associated with obsession-compulsion, anxiety, difficulty identifying feelings and clarity scores. Marking Distress, generating a physical sign of feeling awful, was positively associated with Paranoid Ideation scores and negatively associated with Emotional Neglect scores. The Interpersonal Boundaries was positively associated with Childhood Physical Abuse and Impulse scores. Conclusions: NSSI is realized by different functions in the intrapersonal and interpersonal areas in adolescents with depression. Emotion regulation abilities, alexithymia, and childhood trauma are also associated factors or functions of NSSI.

The role of childhood traumas in adult obesity

Objective: Obesity is a common public health problem which is a cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the etiology. In this study, the role of childhood traumas in adult obesity was examined. Methods: The study group consisted of 109 (76 female, 33 male) participants, 78 patients and 31 healthy volunteers. BMI and blood pressures were recorded. FBG(fasting blood glucose), creatinine, ALT, AST, LDL, HDL, triglyceride, total cholesterol, fasting insulin were studied. Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA-IR.CTQ was applied to all subjects of the patient and control group. Results: Emotional neglect score was significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.009). There was no significant difference in terms of other components. Physical neglect score was significantly higher in patients with BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2 (p=0.030).There was a significant positive correlation between total CTQ, physical and emotional neglect score and insulin and HOMA-IR. Conclusion: Emotional neglect score in obese patients and physical neglect score in stage 2 obese patients were significantly higher, suggesting that childhood traumas may have a role in the etiology of adult obesity. Further and large-scale studies are needed to enlighten all aspects of the subject.

Altered cortical functional network during behavioral inhibition in individuals with childhood trauma

Individuals who have prior history of childhood traumatic experiences are at a high risk for a variety of psychological and behavioral problems throughout their lifetime. This study aimed to investigate whether such individuals exhibit altered cortical functional networks during a behavioral inhibition task. One hundred fifty-three non-clinical individuals were recruited and instructed to perform a Go/NoGo task during an electroencephalograph. Source-level weighted functional networks based on the graph theory were analyzed for NoGo-P3 processing. Based on their total scores on the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) participants were divided into three groups: low CTQ, middle CTQ, and high CTQ. Results at the global level indicated decreased strength, clustering coefficient, and efficiency for the low and gamma bands in the high CTQ group. In addition, the path length of the low beta band was observed to be longer in the high CTQ group than the low CTQ group. At the nodal level, the nodal clustering coefficient of high CTQ group was decreased in left primary somatosensory cortex and middle occipital gyrus for the low beta band, and in left superior temporal gyrus for the gamma band. The nodal clustering coefficient of the left primary somatosensory cortex showed a significant negative correlation with the total CTQ score for the low beta band. In addition, the nodal clustering coefficient of the left middle occipital gyrus for the low beta band and superior temporal gyrus for the gamma band showed significant negative correlations with the emotional neglect score. Our results demonstrate an altered cortical functional network in individuals who experienced childhood trauma. In particular, the left primary somatosensory cortex, middle occipital gyrus, and superior temporal gyrus were found to be vulnerable in individuals who experienced childhood trauma, especially emotional neglect.

Childhood trauma and dissociation among women with genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder.

ObjectiveCauses such as childhood trauma, negative attitude about sexuality, inadequate sexual knowledge and education, relationship problems, and unconscious motivation are reported about psychosexual development in the etiology of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPP/PD). There are few studies that focus directly on research etiology of GPP/PD and use structured scales. The aim of this study was to research childhood trauma and dissociation forms among women with GPP/PD.Patients and methodsFifty-five women with GPP/PD according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and 61 healthy women with no complaints of sexual function as a control group, in the age range of 18–60 years, were included in this study. Sociodemographic data form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) were administered to all participants.ResultsSexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect scores, which comprise the subgroups of CTQ, were found high among women with GPP/PD compared with the control group (p=0.003, p=0.006, p=0.001). While a significant difference between the two groups’ SDQ scores was obtained (p=0.000), no significant difference was detected between the two groups’ DES scores (p=0.392).DiscussionThe results evoke the question are genitopelvic pain conditions, vaginismus and dyspareunia, that cannot be explained with a medical cause and that cause penetration disorder, a kind of dissociative symptom prone to develop in some women with childhood psychogenic trauma.

Relationship between orexin A and childhood maltreatment in female patients with depression and anxiety

ABSTRACTObjective: Childhood maltreatment leads to neuroendocrine changes, which may be associated with an increased vulnerability for psychopathology, such as depression and anxiety in later life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and orexin A levels in patients with depression and anxiety. The study consisted of 27 female outpatients who presented with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms, and 27 healthy female controls. Childhood trauma history was assessed using the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ-28) in patients and controls. Serum levels of orexin and cortisol were measured in all subjects. There were positive correlations between serum orexin levels and CTQ total score and between orexin levels and some CTQ subscale scores, such as physical and emotional neglect, in patients. Orexin levels in patients with a positive history of physical and emotional neglect were higher than those in patients with a negative history of them. In the controls, there was a positive correlation between emotional neglect score and serum orexin level. There were no differences in serum levels of orexin and cortisol between patients and controls. Orexin levels may be associated with childhood maltreatment per se, rather than psychopathology, such as depression or anxiety.

The investigation of relationship between childhood trauma and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Objective: Childhood trauma experiences are known to be associated with various mental disorders. Childhood trauma can lead to an increase in obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The aim of present study was to investigate the relationships between childhood traumas and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in university students. Method: In total, 201 university students (74 males and 127 females; mean age=21.83±2.01) were included in the study. All participants were assessed using a sociodemographic form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Padua Inventory (PI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Then, statistical analyses were performed. Results: The impulse and rumination components of the PE, total PE scores, and BDI scores were higher in the group with high scores of childhood trauma than in the group with low scores according to the cut-off level on the CTQ. There were positive correlations significantly between the total scores of CTQ and ruminations, impulses, just-right subscales, and total scores of PI. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between the total score of PI and emotional neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse subscales scores of CTQ, and BDI scores. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the significant and independent predictor of the scores of contamination/washing were the emotional neglect score. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the childhood traumas, especially emotional traumas, may be associated with obsessive compulsive symptoms.

“Why Do I Feel So Bad?” Childhood Experiences of Emotional Neglect, Negative Affectivity, and Adult Psychiatric Symptoms

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood experiences of emotional neglect, negative affectivity, and adult psychiatric symptoms. Two hundred fifty-two participants aged between 18 and 65 years old completed questionnaires on parental bonding, negative feelings, and current psychiatric symptoms. Correlational analyses showed that childhood emotional neglect, negative affectivity, and psychiatric symptoms were significantly and positively associated. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that female gender, younger age, and negative affectivity predicted the severity of psychiatric symptoms. A mediation analysis showed that scores on negative affectivity fully mediated the relationship between emotional neglect scores and psychiatric symptom scores. The study findings suggest one possible pathway for adult psychopathology. This has its early roots in childhood experiences of emotional neglect, and its actual triggers in negative feelings that are difficult to regulate for people who were emotionally neglected. Educational, clinical, and social implications of this developmental pathway are discussed. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s1p259

Childhood abuse impact on clinical and personality characters among anxiety associated depressive patients

Objective To explore the childhood abuse impact on clinical and personality characters among anxiety associated depressive patients. Methods A case-control method was taken among 86 anxiety associated depression patients, 36 cases with childhood abuse and controlled with 50 cases without childhood abuse.HAMD, HAMA, CECA-Q, MMPI were used to evaluate the participants, and the scores of the results were compared between the two groups. Results For the HAMD, the group with CA were significantly higher than the group without CA(t=7.079, P<0.05). From the point of factor scores, there was not a significant difference between the two groups among the factors such as anxiety somatization, cognitive impairment, and hopelessness.From the point of view of the total scores of HAMA (t=3.108)and spiritual anxiety(t=4.037), somatic anxiety (t=2.742) the CA group was significantly higher than group without CA(P <0.05). In the patients with CA the psychoticism(P)(t=2.794) and neuroticism(N)(t=3.217) factors were significantly higher than patients without CA(P <0.05). MMPI evaluation results showed accept ance T points in addition to lie(L), calibration(K), male woman(Mf), light mania(Ma), the CA group were significantly higher than the group without CA(P <0.05). T points to compare two groups of MMPI additional factor scale, the adaptation to the society(A), emotional intelligence(EQ), decision-making ability(DE), CA group were lower than the group without CA, violence(VL), traffic accident(DR) and addiction(SA) with CA group was higher than the group without CA(P <0.05). The regression analysis showed that the emotional neglect score and HAMD scores were positively related in the relationship of the childhood abuse and depression.Y=3.729+ 0.887 X(P=0.000). Sexual abuse score and HAMD scores were related, regression analysis showed that the Y=9.799+ 0.655 X(P=0.000). Conclusions The clinical patients with CA have more severe symptoms than the patients without CA. Personality is extraversion more emotionally unstable.Their emotional intelligence and decision-making comprehensive ability is low, and violence tendency is obvious.Emotional neglect and sexual abuse have an important impact in the pathogenesis of the disease. Key words: Depression with anxious; Childhood abuse; Personality character

Childhood maltreatment histories, alcohol and other drug use symptoms, and sexual risk behavior in a treatment sample of adolescents.

We tested a structural model of relations among self-reported childhood maltreatment, alcohol and other drug abuse and dependence symptoms, and sexual risk behavior in a sample of adolescents receiving outpatient treatment of substance use problems. Structured interviews were administered to an ethnically diverse sample of 394 adolescents (114 girls, 280 boys; mean = 16.30 years; SD = 1.15 years; 44.9% Hispanic, 20.6% African American, 25.4% White non-Hispanic, and 9.1% other) in 2 outpatient treatment settings. Path analyses yielded findings consistent with a mediation model. Alcohol abuse and dependence symptoms mediated (1) relations between emotional neglect scores and sex with co-occurring alcohol use and (2) relations between sexual abuse scores and sex with co-occurring alcohol use. Drug abuse and dependence symptoms mediated relations between (1) neglect scores and (2) sexual intercourse with co-occurring alcohol or drug use, as well as unprotected sexual intercourse. Efforts to treat alcohol or drug use problems among adolescents or to prevent transmission of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections among youths with substance use problems may require tailoring treatment or prevention protocols to address client histories of maltreatment.

Neuropsychological task performance in bipolar spectrum illness: genetics, alcohol abuse, medication and childhood trauma

Impaired executive and memory function is a putative genetic trait marker of bipolar I disorder (BPD I). Although executive/memory function has been posited to be an endophenotype of BPD I, it is unclear whether this extends to bipolar spectrum illness. It is also unclear to what extent non-genetic factors such as childhood abuse, alcoholism and medication influence neurocognitive function. We assessed the neuropsychological performance of a large cohort of bipolar disorder probands and their affectively ill and healthy family members, while controlling for self-reported childhood sexual and emotional abuse, emotional neglect, alcohol abuse and medication. A total of 230 largely euthymic participants from 47 families, comprising 49 subjects with BPD I, 19 with bipolar II disorder (BPD II), 44 with recurrent major depression (MDE-R), 33 with a single lifetime episode of depression (MDE-S), 20 with other DSM-IV diagnoses and 65 unaffected relatives, were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tasks. Sexual abuse, emotional abuse and emotional neglect scores were associated with poorer cognitive performance. After controlling for childhood trauma, the BPD I group performed worse than unaffected relatives on tests of visual recall memory as well as verbal recall and recognition memory. In contrast, individuals with BPD II and bipolar spectrum illness did not differ significantly from unaffected relatives. Treatment with lithium and antipsychotic medication was associated with reduced executive and verbal recognition memory function. After controlling for medication and other covariates, only verbal recall memory was significantly impaired in the BPD I cohort. Verbal recall deficits may be one manifestation of a genetically driven dysfunction of frontal-striatal cortical networks in BPD I.

Childhood Trauma and Personality Disorder: Positive Correlation With Adult CSF Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Concentrations

To test the hypothesis that early life trauma results in adult stress hormone alterations in individuals with personality disorders, the authors examined the relationship between history of childhood adversity and lumbar CSF corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). Participants were 20 otherwise healthy men who met DSM-IV criteria for personality disorders. CSF CRF was obtained by lumbar puncture, and childhood adversity was measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Correlations were obtained between CSF CRF and the total score on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire as well as scores on its four subscales. CSF CRF concentrations were positively correlated with the total score on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Analysis of the subscales revealed that CSF CRF was correlated with emotional neglect. Correlations between CSF CRF level and physical and emotional abuse and with physical neglect were not statistically significant. Consistent with the hypothesis that the severity of early life stress is correlated with stress hormone abnormalities in adulthood, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire total scores and emotional neglect scores were significantly correlated with CSF CRF levels in individuals with personality disorders.

Self-rated childhood emotional neglect and CSF monoamine indices in abstinent cocaine-abusing adults: possible implications for suicidal behavior

Non-human primate studies suggest that early environmental influences may have an enduring effect on central serotonin function. Therefore, it was decided to examine in humans whether childhood trauma might be related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) as an adult. A total of 29 withdrawn cocaine-dependent patients completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. They also had a lumbar puncture for determination of CSF concentrations of 5-HIAA. CSF concentrations of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) were also determined. Childhood emotional neglect scores showed significant negative correlations with CSF levels of 5-HIAA and HVA, and patients with emotional neglect scores above the median had significantly lower CSF 5-HIAA and HVA levels than patients with emotional neglect scores at or below the median. These findings suggest the possibility that childhood trauma may have an effect on central monoamine function as an adult.