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Background: Early adversity increases the risk for mental and physical disorders as well as premature death. Epigenetic processes, and altered epigenetic aging in particular, might mediate these effects. While the literature that examined links between early adversity and epigenetic aging is growing, results have been heterogeneous.Objective: In the current work, we explored the link between early adversity and epigenetic aging in a sample of formerly out-of-home placed young adults.Method: A total of N = 117 young adults (32% women, age mean = 26.3 years, SD = 3.6 years) with previous youth residential care placements completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Life Events Checklist (LEC-R) and provided blood samples for the analysis of DNA methylation using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip Microarray. Epigenetic age was estimated using Hovarths and Hannums epigenetic clocks. Furthermore, Hovarths and Hannums epigenetic age residuals were calculated as a proxy of epigenetic aging by regressing epigenetic age on chronological age. The statistical analysis plan was preregistered (https://osf.io/b9ev8).Results: Childhood trauma (CTQ) was negatively associated with Hannums epigenetic age residuals, β = -.23, p = .004 when controlling for sex, BMI, smoking status and proportional white blood cell type estimates. This association was driven by experiences of physical neglect, β = -.25, p = .001. Lifetime trauma exposure (LEC-R) was not a significant predictor of epigenetic age residuals.Conclusion: Childhood trauma, and physical neglect in particular, was associated with decelerated epigenetic aging in our sample. More studies focusing on formerly institutionalized at-risk populations are needed to better understand which factors affect stress-related adaptations following traumatic experiences.

We aimed to examine whether positive and negative coping styles mediated the influences of childhood trauma on NSSI or depressive severity in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory Chinese Revised Edition (OSIC), the short-form Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) were evaluated in 313 adolescents with MDD. MDD adolescents with NSSI had higher CTQ-SF total score, emotional and sexual abuse subscale scores, but lower CDI total and subscale scores compared to the patients without NSSI. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that emotional abuse (β = 0.075, 95 % CI: 0.042–0.107) and ineffectiveness (β = −0.084, 95 % CI: −0.160 ∼ −0.009) were significantly associated with the frequency of NSSI in adolescents with MDD, but emotional abuse (β = 0.884, 95 % CI: 0.570–1.197), sexual abuse (β = 0.825, 95 % CI: 0.527–1.124) and negative coping style (β = 0.370, 95 % CI: 0.036–0.704) were independently associated with the depressive severity in these adolescents. Furthermore, the mediation analysis demonstrated that positive coping style partially mediates the effect of childhood trauma on NSSI (Indirect effect = 0.002, 95 % bootCI: 0.001–0.004), while the negative coping style partially mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive severity (Indirect effect = 0.024, 95 % bootCI: 0.005–0.051) in adolescents with MDD. A cross-sectional design, the retrospective self-reported data, the small sample size. Our findings suggest that coping styles may serve as mediators on the path from childhood trauma to NSSI or depressive severity in MDD adolescents. • Adolescent depressive patients with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) had higher level of childhood maltreatment compared to patients without. • Childhood maltreatment is positively correlated to the NSSI and depressive severity in adolescents with major depressive disorder. • The coping style can mediate the effect of childhood trauma on NSSI and depressive severity in depressive adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood trauma history has frequently been linked to eating disorders (EDs); nevertheless, the scientific literature calls for extending knowledge regarding mediators between EDs and childhood trauma. This study explored whether ED symptoms and early maladaptive schemas were more severe in ED patients with severe childhood trauma than in ED patients with no/mild childhood trauma and whether early maladaptive schemas mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and ED symptom severity. Methods: Data were extracted from the Regional Centre for Eating Disorders registry at the University Hospital of Verona. The extracted data included self-reported data, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 score, Young Schema Questionnaire score, Childhood Experience and Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire score, and sociodemographic and clinical information on the ED outpatients seeking care. A mediation analysis using the structural equation modeling procedure was conducted. Results: Forty-two outpatients, 31% of whom exhibited severe childhood trauma, satisfied the criteria for registry data extraction. The severity of ED symptoms, as well as the early maladaptive schemas' scores for emotional deprivation, defectiveness, failure, vulnerability, insufficient self-control, and negativity, were greater in ED outpatients with severe childhood trauma. Furthermore, early maladaptive schemas related to defectiveness, failure, and negativity had a mediating role in the relationship between severe childhood trauma and ED symptom severity. Conclusions: This exploratory study provides preliminary evidence about the importance of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between trauma history and ED psychopathology. In addition, ED symptoms may represent a dysfunctional attempt to avoid unpleasant emotions associated with schema activation. The results support the need to consider early maladaptive schemas in the treatment of traumatized patients with ED symptoms. Study limitations, research and clinical implications are discussed. Plain English summary: Eating disorder psychopathology was found to be related to a history of trauma. Nonetheless, our understanding of the mediators of the relationship between childhood trauma and eating disorders remains to be improved. The current study revealed that certain early maladaptive schemas (i.e., defectiveness, failure, and negativity) mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and eating disorder symptoms and that outpatients who experienced severe childhood trauma reported more severe eating disorder symptoms and greater severity of certain early maladaptive schemas, such as emotional deprivation, defectiveness, failure, vulnerability, insufficient self-control, and negativity. Our findings support the need to consider early maladaptive schemas in the treatment of traumatized patients with eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 33-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33) is a recently developed tool expanded from the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28) to assess childhood trauma events, which showed good test-retest reliability over 2 weeks. However, little is known regarding the factor structure and long-term test-retest reliability of the CTQ-33. To fill such a gap, this study investigated the factorial validity of the CTQ-33 and test-retest reliability of the scale over a relatively long interval of 1 year. Data on demographics, the CTQ-33 scores, and mental health statuses such as depressive/anxiety symptoms were collected in Chinese adolescents (n = 188) twice across a one-year period. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the Chinese version of CTQ-33 has close factor validity when compared to the original CTQ-28 in college students. Furthermore, the total and most subscale scores of the CTQ-33 have fair to good test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.6 for the total score, and > 0.4 for most subscales), except for the physical abuse subscale. Moreover, we replicated previous findings of significant positive relationships between levels of different childhood trauma subtypes using the CTQ-33. These findings provide initial evidence supporting that the CTQ-33 is overall reliable to assess childhood traumatic events in adolescents over relatively long intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While psychopathy has been a topic of interest in the psychological field for a long time, it is still unclear which developmental factors are related to its onset. Theories have suggested that experiencing trauma in childhood may contribute to the development of psychopathic traits. Experiencing trauma may also contribute to the development of an insecure attachment style, which in turn might cause the emergence of psychopathic traits. The current study investigated links between experiencing childhood trauma and the three psychopathy domains of the Extended Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (E-LSRP; Egocentricity, Callousness, and Antisocial), and whether these links were mediated by the four insecure attachment dimensions of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Need for Approval, Preoccupation with Relationships, Relationships as Secondary, and Discomfort with Closeness), in a large sample of non-clinical participants (N = 2023, Mage = 32.7, 70.0% female). The results suggested that Relationships as Secondary, but not Discomfort with Closeness, positively mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and the three domains of psychopathy, while Need for Approval negatively mediated this relationship. Preoccupation with Relationships was a significant mediator in the links between childhood trauma and both the Egocentricity and Antisocial domains, but not the Callousness domain. The current findings suggested that there might be both shared and differential mechanisms linking childhood trauma and psychopathic traits through insecure attachment styles. These findings can guide further investigations in longitudinal research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background During the last decades, an abundance of studies has investigated childhood adversity in relation to psychosis. This systematic review critically examines the methodologies employed to investigate childhood adversity in psychosis over the past decade, including operational definitions, measurement tools and characteristics, and psychometric properties of instruments used in these studies. Study Design This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines (registration number CRD42022307096), and the search used the following electronic databases: PsychINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science, African Index Medicus (AIM), LILACS, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. The search included variations and combinations of the terms targeting childhood adversity and psychosis. Study Results Out of 585 identified studies published between 2010 and 2023, 341 employed a validated instrument to investigate childhood adversity. Our findings show "childhood trauma" being the most frequently examined construct, followed by "child maltreatment" or "child abuse." The short version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was the dominant instrument. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse were most frequently investigated, and indeed the field appears generally to focus on child abuse and neglect over other adversities. Significant psychometric heterogeneity was observed in the selection and summarization of instrument items, with only 59% of studies documenting original psychometric validation and 22% reporting reliability in their datasets. Conclusion This review highlights substantial methodological heterogeneity in the field, pointing out biases in the research on childhood adversity and psychosis. These findings underline the need for standardized definitions and high-quality measurement tools to enhance the validity of future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the moderating role of family communication patterns in the relationship between childhood trauma and the tendency toward addiction in adolescent boys. Methods and Materials: The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population consisted of all adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, from seventh to twelfth grade, in the year 2023. The research sample included 380 individuals selected through multistage cluster sampling. They were evaluated using the Ahvaz Addiction Tendency Questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Revised Family Communication Patterns (RFCP) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 21 software at both descriptive and inferential levels, and hypothesis testing was conducted using hierarchical regression analysis. Findings: The results showed a positive and significant relationship between dimensions of childhood trauma and the tendency toward addiction (p ≤ 0.05), as well as a positive and significant relationship between conformity and the tendency toward addiction (p ≤ 0.05). However, there was a negative and significant relationship between conversation orientation and the tendency toward addiction (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, family communication patterns moderated the relationship between physical abuse and the tendency toward addiction, as well as the relationship between emotional abuse and the tendency toward addiction. However, family communication patterns did not moderate the relationship between physical neglect and the tendency toward addiction, nor the relationship between emotional neglect and the tendency toward addiction. Family communication patterns did moderate the relationship between sexual abuse and the tendency toward addiction. Conclusion: It can be concluded that family communication patterns mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the tendency toward addiction in adolescent boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological mechanisms underlying anxiety proneness (AP), the tendency to react fearfully to stressors due to the belief that experiencing anxiety has harmful consequences, remain unclear. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNAs (small, non‐coding RNAs 19–20 nucleotides long), may be contributory. This study investigated AP‐associated differences in microRNA expression among South African adolescents with variable exposure to childhood trauma (CT). AP was assessed using a composite score reflecting trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, while CT exposure was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. High‐quality total RNA (n = 88) extracted from whole blood underwent microRNA‐sequencing. Differential microRNA expression analysis was conducted with DESeq2 in R, messenger RNA target prediction analysis was performed using TargetScan and DIANA‐microT, and the DIANA mirPATH tool was used for KEGG pathway analysis. The majority of participants were female (75.86%) with an average age of 15 (±1.19) years. MicroRNA expression analysis identified upregulation of hsa‐miR‐28‐5p and downregulation of hsa‐miR‐502‐3p and hsa‐miR‐500a‐3p in high‐AP individuals, irrespective of CT. Four KEGG pathways, each with ≥10% of their constituent genes predicted to be targets of the differentially expressed microRNAs, were identified and were enriched for genes involved in calcineurin and glutamate signalling. These findings suggest that epigenetically mediated effects on neuronal function contribute to the molecular aetiology of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a psychological emergency requiring rapid intervention, hospitalization and psychiatric management. However, PP has been neglected in the postpartum literature. Understanding the detrimental consequences of childhood trauma across mother's life span is crucial to prevent this serious condition. The study's objectives were to demonstrate the relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences (PPEs) and to look over the mediating role of postnatal depression (PD) and anxiety (PA) in this relationship. Methods: This cross-sectional study, which enrolled 438 postpartum females 4–6 weeks after delivery (mean age: 31.23 ± 5.24 years), was carried out from September 2022 to June 2023. The Arabic validated versions of the Postpartum Psychotic Experiences Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, and the Child Abuse Self Report Scale were used. Results: Both PD and PA partially mediated the correlation between psychological abuse and PPEs, and fully mediated the association between neglect and PPEs. Higher psychological abuse and neglect were significantly associated with higher PD (Beta = 1.11) and PA (Beta = 3.94), higher PD (Beta = 0.84) and PA (Beta = 0.26) were significantly associated with higher PPEs in both models, whereas greater child psychological abuse (Beta = 1.37) (but not neglect) was directly and strongly correlated with higher PPEs in all models. Conclusion: The significant mediating effect of PA and PD on the association between childhood adversities and PPEs among postpartum females may offer additional therapeutic avenues to help attenuate various postpartum mental health issues and their potential serious risks on both mother and child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leadership is an important competency across different fields and is a key to socio-economic development. Although leadership involves various social-emotional competencies that can be profoundly affected by childhood trauma, it remains unknown about the potential relationship between childhood trauma and leadership. This study examined whether childhood trauma and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms would be negatively associated with leadership competence. A convenience sample of N = 411 Hong Kong adults (Age: M = 38.6, SD = 12.9) completed self-report measures of the studied variables in an online survey. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that childhood betrayal trauma (β = − 0.140, p =.008) but not non-betrayal trauma (β = 0.035, p =.491) was significantly, negatively associated with perceived leadership competence, even after controlling for covariates. When symptoms of complex PTSD were added into the model, disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms were also a significant factor associated with perceived leadership competence (β = − 0.454, p <.001). This study is the first to show that childhood betrayal trauma and its major mental health consequences (i.e., complex PTSD symptoms) are negatively associated with perceived leadership competence. The findings expand our limited understanding of the socio-economic correlates of childhood trauma and point to the social and economic importance of child protection. If we make efforts to prevent childhood trauma, we may possibly protect our future leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Childhood maltreatment contributes to a large mental health burden worldwide. Different measures of childhood maltreatment are not equivalent and may capture meaningful differences. In particular, prospective and retrospective measures of maltreatment identify different groups of individuals and are differentially associated with psychopathology. However, the reasons behind these discrepancies have not yet been comprehensively mapped.In this review, we draw on multi‐disciplinary research and present an integrated framework to explain maltreatment measurement disagreement.We identified three interrelated domains. First, methodological issues related to measurement and data collection methods. Second, the role of memory in influencing retrospective reports of maltreatment. Finally, the motivations individuals may have to disclose, withhold, or fabricate information about maltreatment.A greater understanding of maltreatment measurement disagreement may point to new ways to conceptualise and assess maltreatment. Furthermore, it may help uncover mechanisms underlying maltreatment‐related psychopathology and targets for novel interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood trauma was known to increase risks of social isolation, loneliness and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine the protect and risk factors of social health, self-injurious thoughts and behaviors between adults with or without childhood trauma. This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 145,043 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank. Childhood trauma was determined by the Childhood Trauma Screener. Social health included social isolation, loneliness and emotional support. Outcomes of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors included suicide ideation, suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Demographic data, self-reported morbidities and other confounding variables were covariates. Stata 17.0 and SPSS 27.0 was used to analysis data. Compared with participants without childhood trauma, there was no protective effect of emotional support for NSSI in participants with childhood trauma (β -value difference = 0.334, p = 0.008). The risk effect of loneliness for suicide ideation, suicide attempt and NSSI were also weaker in participants experiencing childhood trauma (p <0.05). Social isolation was no longer a risk factor for NSSI in all participants, while loneliness remained as a threat (p < 0.05). Many variables were measured using core items of the scale in UK Biobank, meanwhile, the childhood trauma data collected in adulthood may have recall bias. Adults reported childhood trauma were less vulnerable to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors when experiencing loneliness, but they could also not be protected from NSSI through emotional support. Emotional dysregulation caused by childhood trauma may contribute to this. • Adults reported childhood trauma were less vulnerable to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors when experiencing loneliness; • Adults reported childhood trauma would not be protected from NSSI through emotional support. • Regardless of childhood trauma, social isolation was not a risk factor for NSSI, while loneliness remained as a threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood trauma is widely recognized as a potential risk factor for psychiatric illness in adulthood, yet the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship remain incompletely understood. One proposed mechanism involves the impact of childhood trauma on personality development, particularly in relation to neuroticism, which may subsequently heighten susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate this hypothesis through an online survey involving 1116 participants (232 male, 21 %). Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), assessing emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect, along with the Trait Self-Description Inventory (TSDI) for personality assessment and the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 clinical questionnaires for depression and anxiety symptoms evaluation, respectively. Our analyses revealed significant positive correlations between all facets of childhood trauma and neuroticism (all p <.01). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that emotional abuse significantly contributed to neuroticism (β = 0.267, p <.05), openness (β = 0.142, p <.05), and agreeableness (β = 0.089, p <.05), while sexual abuse was associated with agreeableness (β = 0.137, p <.01) Emotional neglect was negatively correlated with conscientiousness (β = −0.090, p <.01), extroversion (β = −0.109, p <.01) and agreeableness (β = −0.154, p <.01). Furthermore, linear regression analysis revealed that emotional abuse was positively and significantly correlated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores (r = 0.330, p <.01 and r = 0.327, p <.01, respectively). Mediation analysis supported a significant mediating role of neuroticism in the association between childhood emotional abuse and both depression (PHQ-9) (z = 8.681, p <.01) and anxiety (GAD-7) (z = 9.206, p <.01). Notably, the correlation between childhood emotional abuse and psychiatric symptoms was attenuated but not eliminated after controlling for neuroticism, suggesting partial mediation. While our cross-sectional design precludes causal inference, our findings support the notion that childhood emotional abuse may contribute to increased neuroticism, thereby elevating vulnerability to affective disorders in adulthood. These results underscore the importance of considering personality factors in understanding the long-term consequences of childhood trauma on mental health outcomes. • Trauma in childhood may increase susceptibility to psychiatric illness in adulthood, link is personality. • The Sobel test assessed mediation for 1116 people who completed CTQ, Big Five, TSDI, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 questionnaires. • CTQ emotional abuse correlated significantly with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, linking emotional abuse and anxiety through neuroticism. • Emotional abuse exerts a significant effect on neuroticism during childhood, and this increases vulnerability to affective disorders in adulthood. • These results highlight the importance of considering personality in understanding the long-term effects of childhood trauma on mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive, compulsive behaviors, with childhood trauma recognized as a contributing factor to its pathophysiology. This study aimed to delineate brain functional aberrations in OCD patients and explore the association between these abnormalities and childhood trauma, to gain insights into the neural underpinnings of OCD. Forty-eight drug-naive OCD patients and forty-two healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessments, including the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y–BOCS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF). Compared to HCs, OCD patients exhibited significantly decreased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the right cerebellum, decreased regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the right cerebellum and right superior occipital lobes (FWE-corrected p < 0.05), which negatively correlated with Y–BOCS scores (p < 0.05). Furthermore, cerebellar ALFF negatively correlated with the CTQ emotional abuse subscale (r = − 0.514, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that cerebellar ALFF mediated the relationship between CTQ-emotional abuse and Y–BOCS (good model fit: R2 = 0.231, MSE = 14.311, F = 5.721, p < 0.01; direct effect, c′ = 0.153, indirect effect, a*b = 0.191). Findings indicated abnormal spontaneous and regional cerebellar activity in OCD, suggesting childhood trauma impacts OCD symptoms through cerebellar neural remodeling, highlighting its importance for clinical treatment selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodsResultsConclusions\nKey PointsBereavement through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a unique form of complex trauma that may disrupt and destabilise identity in surviving children. This qualitative study aimed to generate a better understanding of post-homicide experiences and needs in the context of identity to improve support for these neglected victim-survivors.Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Australia with 12 participants aged 16 to 55 years (10 females, one male, and one non-binary) who were younger than 18 years when one of their biological parents murdered the other. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Four themes were generated: (1) non-normalcy; (2) isolation and alienation; (3) negotiating silence; and (4) understanding self through connection to parents. Participants’ bereavement seemed to catalyse a self-concept of difference that was defined relationally in opposition to “normal” peers. Isolation ensued this othering and was sometimes compounded by a lacking sense of belonging in post-homicide family environments or engagement in support that exacerbated alienation. Societal taboos saw participants mask their inner worlds, which hampered sense making and drove self-uncertainty. Connection to parents was an important vehicle for self-understanding. Participants generally rejected perpetrators and maintained an active connection with the deceased, which sometimes served as a powerful means of resolving identity-based tensions (e.g. fear of inheriting perpetrator traits).Peer-based models of support and connection to victim parents warrant further investigation as potential intervention targets to alleviate identity-based distress following bereavement due to parental IPH.What is already known about this topic: The loss of a parent through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a complex and distressing phenomenon that remains under-recognised.Existing research has evidenced increased risk of negative health outcomes following bereavement but has generally neglected the experiences and perspectives of those with lived experience.The circumstances surrounding this form of traumatic loss point to identity as a salient source of disturbance and distress.The loss of a parent through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a complex and distressing phenomenon that remains under-recognised.Existing research has evidenced increased risk of negative health outcomes following bereavement but has generally neglected the experiences and perspectives of those with lived experience.The circumstances surrounding this form of traumatic loss point to identity as a salient source of disturbance and distress.What this topic adds: This is the first qualitative enquiry into lived experiences of bereavement through parental IPH during childhood in the Australian context.Results highlight impacts beyond clinical outcomes concerning experiences of non-normalcy, isolation and estrangement, societal silencing, and how identity was negotiated through connection to perpetrator and victim parents.Efforts to foster connection between peers with shared lived experience of IPH and victim parents may be helpful in countering experiences of identity-based distress reported by people with lived experience.This is the first qualitative enquiry into lived experiences of bereavement through parental IPH during childhood in the Australian context.Results highlight impacts beyond clinical outcomes concerning experiences of non-normalcy, isolation and estrangement, societal silencing, and how identity was negotiated through connection to perpetrator and victim parents.Efforts to foster connection between peers with shared lived experience of IPH and victim parents may be helpful in countering experiences of identity-based distress reported by people with lived experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children facing challenges such as social deficiencies during childhood may struggle in social interactions and unhealthy emotional relationships, thus increasing their vulnerability to sexual addiction. The relationship between childhood traumas and sexual addiction is influenced by various factors such as social support, mental framing, and attachment styles, highlighting the importance of thoroughly examining the impact of each of these factors on this relationship. Strong scientific evidence can guide decision-makers in implementing effective measures and policies to prevent childhood traumas and sexual addiction. Aims: The present study aimed to model the structural equations of the relationship between childhood traumas and sexual addiction, with the mediating role of perceived social support, mental framing, and attachment styles. Methods: The current research employed a descriptive correlational approach and structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all virtual students in Tehran universities during the academic year 2021-2022. The sample size was determined to be 322 individuals based on the Klein formula (2011), considering the possibility of dropouts, with 370 individuals ultimately included. Data collection utilized the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 2003), Sexual Addiction Screening Test (Carnes, 1988), and Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire (Collins & Read, 1990). The gathered data were analyzed using path analysis in LISREL and SPSS software. Results: The research findings indicate significant correlations, confirming the hypothesized correlation between variables for developing the structural equation model (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The relationship between childhood traumas and sexual addiction is influenced by various factors, including social support, mental framing, and attachment styles, underscoring the critical importance of thoroughly investigating the impact of each of these factors on this relationship. Strong scientific evidence can guide decision-makers in implementing effective measures and policies to prevent childhood traumas and sexual addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment can negatively impact not only survivors but also survivors' children. However, research on the intergenerational effect of maternal childhood maltreatment on child externalizing behaviour has yielded contradictory results and has not yet been systematically synthesised. The current three-level meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to provide a quantitative estimate of the strength of the association between maternal childhood maltreatment and child externalizing behaviour and to summarise research on potential mediating factors of this association. PsycINFO, PubMed, and Embase were searched and 39 studies with 82 effects sizes were included in the meta-analysis. Results revealed a small significant association between maternal childhood maltreatment and child externalizing behaviour (r = 0.16; 95% CI 0.12–0.19; publication bias-adjusted effect size: r = 0.12, 95% CI 0.08–0.16). Maternal mental health, particularly depressive symptoms, maternal parenting and children's maltreatment exposure were the most frequently examined mediators of this association, with relatively robust mediating effects for children's maltreatment exposure and maternal depressive symptoms, but mixed evidence for the mediating role of maternal parenting. This meta-analysis provides evidence for a small but significant association between maternal childhood maltreatment and children's externalizing behaviour, emphasizing the need to develop effective preventive and intervention strategies to minimise the effects of childhood maltreatment on the next generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian Americans have been identified as a racial group that is disproportionately affected by childhood trauma. The goal of this study was to assess if religion/spirituality moderate the effects of childhood trauma on adult depressive symptoms among a sample of South Asians in the USA. Our analysis drew from the study on stress, spirituality, and health (SSSH) questionnaire fielded in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study (n = 990) during 2016–2018. A series of regression models with multiplicative interaction terms were conducted. Emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and physical neglect were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Higher religious attendance and negative religious coping techniques were found to exacerbate this relationship. There were two findings conditional on gender. Among men, gratitude and positive religious coping also exacerbated the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms. Negative religious coping also exacerbated the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms for women. This is the first community-based study of US South Asians to consider the association between various forms of childhood trauma and depressive symptom outcomes. South Asians remain an understudied group in the religion and health literature, and this study sheds light on the important differences in the function and effectiveness of religion/spirituality for those faced with early life trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood trauma experience is closely associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, few studies have explored the complex symptom-level relations between these variables among people with and without trauma experiences, leaving a gap in treating and alleviating these mental disorders among individuals with childhood trauma. The current study used a convenience sampling method and recruited 2708 participants who completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), and Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS), dividing them into trauma (n = 1454, Mean age = 19.67) and no-trauma (n = 1254, Mean age = 19.57) groups according to the cut-off scores of CTQ-SF. Symptom network analysis and network comparison test were conducted to construct and compare the network models between trauma and no-trauma groups. The findings indicate that the trauma group and females exhibit greater average levels of DASS-21 and PSU symptoms compared to the no-trauma group and males, respectively. Additionally, the edge between "Stress" and "Anxiety" is the strongest across trauma and no-trauma groups. "Social comfort" is a bridge symptom of the trauma group network and the results of bridge symptoms in the no-trauma group are not stable. This study did not categorize all individuals according to specific types of trauma experiences and it is a cross-sectional design. The prevalences calculated in this study may not be generalizable. Interventions targeting different bridge symptoms in the trauma and no-trauma network models may help reduce the severity of symptoms. • People with childhood trauma are likely to have more severe mental health problems. • "MPATS3" (Social comfort) is an important bridge symptom of the trauma group network. • Network analysis contributes to development of interventions targeting key symptom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research established the associations between childhood trauma and psychosis, but the effects of childhood trauma on psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) among people living with HIV (PLWH) and the potential mediation mechanisms in these associations remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on PLEs, as well as the chain mediation roles of stigma and resilience in this relationship. Furthermore, we explored whether the aforementioned associations differed when hallucinatory experiences (HEs) and delusional experiences (DEs) were separately modeled. The sample included 333 outpatients participants (95.2 % males, M age = 28.24 ± 7.12) living with HIV recruited from Hunan Province, China; and data were collected with a cross-sectional survey. The hypothesized chain mediation models were examined using SPSS PROCESS macro 3.3 software. Various influencing mechanisms of childhood trauma on HEs and DEs were examined in this study. Our results showed that, (a) childhood trauma directly exerted negative effect on HEs, while the chain mediation effect of stigma and resilience were not statistically significant. Conversely, (b) childhood trauma exerted no direct influence on DEs but rather through the chain mediation effect of stigma and resilience. The identification of two different routes between that childhood trauma can have on HEs and DEs highlighted the importance of tailored prevention and intervention among PLWH with a history of childhood trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first purpose of this study was to determine the course of dissociation among patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and personality-disordered comparison subjects (OPD) over 24 years of prospective follow-up. The second purpose was to determine clinically meaningful predictors of dissociation among patients with BPD. The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) was administered to 290 patients with BPD and 72 personality-disordered comparison subjects at baseline, and then once every two years over 24 years of prospective follow-up. Baseline predictors were assessed with the Revised Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ-R), the SCID-I, and the Shipley Institute of Living Scale. Time-varying predictors were assessed at baseline and every subsequent two years by means of the Abuse History Interview (AHI). Patients with BPD had higher baseline dissociation scores than personality-disordered comparison subjects. Whilst dissociation decreased significantly over time for both patient groups, the BPD group showed a steeper decline. Severity of childhood sexual abuse, adult history of rape, adult history of partner violence, and IQ were multivariate predictors of dissociation among patients with BPD. Taken together, the present findings suggest that a combination of interpersonal trauma exposure and cognitive abilities may contribute to the severity of dissociation in adult patients with BPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the relation of childhood trauma to marital satisfaction in divorce participants and the mediating role of conflict resolution styles. Methods: Totally 305 divorced participants were selected by convenient sampling and evaluated with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the marital satisfaction subscale and the conflict resolution subscale of Olson Enrich Marital Inventory (ENRICH). Results: The detection rate of childhood trauma among the divorced participants was 67.5%. The CTQ scores were negatively correlated with the scores of conflict resolution styles and marital satisfaction (r=0.14, 0.25, Ps <0.05). The conflict resolution styles mediated entirely the relationship between childhood trauma and marital satisfaction in divorced participants, with a total effect of 0.06 (95% CI: -0.11 -0.01). Conclusion: It suggests that childhood trauma of divorcing participants may be associated with marital satisfaction and conflict resolution styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to reveal the relationship between childhood traumas and emotion regulation skills of obese and non-obese individuals. The research is a comparative-descriptive and correlational study. The obese group included 52 people with a BMI ≥ 30, and the non-obese group included 58 people with a BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2. Information Form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ) were used in the study data. The rates of total childhood trauma and physical neglect were significantly higher in obese individuals (53.8 % vs. 32.8 %; 50 % vs. 22.4 %, respectively) than in non-obese individuals. Obese individuals were found to have lower emotion regulation skills. While a significant inverse relationship was found between childhood trauma and emotion regulation skills total and sub-dimension scores in obese individuals, no significant relationship was found in non-obese individuals. Psychiatric-mental health nurses can play an active role in the prevention and treatment of obesity by providing emotion regulation training to individuals in their roles as counselors and educators. [Display omitted] • It has been supported that obese individuals have more childhood trauma. • It is seen that the emotion regulation skills of obese individuals are not developed compared to non-obese individuals. • Childhood trauma increases in obese individuals, and their emotion regulation skills decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological resilience in the Turkish Cypriot community and to identify the predictors of psychological resilience. The research was conducted with 354 individuals in a web-based online environment in Northern Cyprus. Data were collected using a "Personal Information Form", the "Adverse Childhood Events Scale", and the "Resilience Scale for Adults". Percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's correlation analysis were used in the data analysis. In the study, 16.67 % of the participants were exposed to war or conflict when they were young and 10.17 % had a mental illness. In addition, it was determined that there were statistically significant and negative correlations between the Adverse Childhood Events Scale scores and the scores they got from the Adult Resilience Scale and the sub-dimensions of the scale. Female gender and education level predicted the scores on the Resilience Scale for Adults positively, and the presence of mental disease and the scores on the Adverse Childhood Events Scale negatively predicted the scores on the Resilience Scale for Adults. İn this study, gender, educational status, presence of mental illness, and the total score on the Adverse Childhood Events Scale were determined to be predictive variables affecting resilience. Considering the research findings, it is recommended that nurses plan studies for the protection of the mental health of children and adolescents and the groups exposed to trauma should be psychologically supported to raise individuals with high resilience. • Negative life events experienced in childhood affect resilience negatively. • Gender, education level, presence of mental illness are predictive variables affecting resilience. • Nurses should identify high-risk children, and provide holistic training by using their investigative and educational roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Intimate partner violence can occur as a form of stalking behaviour, which is considered a pattern of repeated and unwanted behaviours towards another individual. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 498 participants from Portugal, aged between 12–21 years. Findings support that adolescent stalking perpetrators exhibited psychopathic traits, psychopathology, aggression, and childhood trauma. Results showed that anxiety partially mediates the association between childhood trauma and stalking perpetration. These findings provide a better understanding of stalking in adolescence, which allows professionals to have a more comprehensive approach when considering intervention programs. Limitations and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examined how dissociation is experienced and manifested in the drawings and narratives of female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Fifteen Israeli women filled out a self-report questionnaire consisting of demographics, traumatic events, and dissociation severity. Then, they were asked to draw a dissociation experience and provide a narrative. The results indicated that experiencing CSA was highly correlated with indicators such as the level of fragmentation, the figurative style, as well as with the narrative. Two main themes emerged: a constant movement between internal and external worlds, and distorted perceptions of time and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Experiences of Childhood Maltreatment (CM) relate to relapse and lower treatment success in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), one of the most prevalent substance use disorders. However, the exact mechanisms of this relationship still remain unclear. This study examines perceived stress and “drinking to cope with negative affect” (coping) as possible mediators in this relationship. Moreover, it aims at uncovering the differential effects of the subtypes of CM. Methods: N = 96 individuals (42% women; mean age 41 ± 13 years) including healthy controls and individuals with varying severity of AUD and CM completed the Alcohol-Dependence Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and German Inventory of Drinking Situations. Mediation analyses including perceived stress as a mediator between CM (and subtypes) and severity of AUD, as well as a serial mediation of the relationship between CM and AUD severity by perceived stress and coping were conducted. Results: Perceived stress significantly mediated the relation between CM and AUD severity and the serial mediation by perceived stress and coping turned out significant. Subtype-specific analyses did not yield significant results. Conclusion: This study reinforces perceived stress as a potential mechanism in the relation between CM and AUD severity. Moreover, coping further mediated the relationship between CM and AUD severity. Our results suggest including screening for CM (subtypes) in clinical routine in order to individually emphasize interventions focusing on stress regulation, as well as on developing healthy coping mechanisms, in patients with AUD. This might prevent heightened stress sensitivity, relapse and further maintenance of AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since intimacy is a fundamental human need within social relationships, and recognizing that a fear of intimacy correlates with various negative consequences, it becomes crucial to examine the origins and factors that contribute to addressing this issue. This research aimed to investigate the mediating roles of mentalization and integrative self-knowledge in the link between childhood trauma and the fear of intimacy. Methods: Conducted as correlational descriptive research, our study incorporates a total sample of 303 adult women and men participants aged 20 to 50 in Tehran using the convenience sampling method. They completed the Fear of Intimacy Scale (FIS), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Mentalization Scale (MentS), and the Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale (ISK). To analyze the research data at the descriptive level, frequency, percentage, standard deviation, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used, while path analysis tested our hypotheses in SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24. Fit indices were used to check the model's fit, and the mediation test was performed using the bootstrapping method. The fit indices revealed an excellent fit of the model with the data (2 = 1.51, 2/df = 1.51, p = 0.219; RMSEA = 0.05; SRMR = 0.02; CFI = 0.99; NFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99). Results: Results indicate mentalization fully mediates the childhood trauma-fear of intimacy relationship (ß = 0.14, p < 0.01). However, the indirect relationship between childhood trauma and fear of intimacy through integrative self-knowledge was insignificant. The results also showed that the path coefficient from mentalization to fear of intimacy was negative and significant (ß = -0.41, p < 0.001), while the path coefficient from integrative self-knowledge to fear of intimacy was not significant (ß = -0.02, p > 0.05). Discussion: Based on the current findings indicating the complete mediation of mentalization and the insignificance of the mediation of integrative selfknowledge, we can deduce that enhancing the capacity for mentalization holds promise in effectively addressing intimacy-related issues. Overall, the study suggests mentalization effectively predicts the relationship between childhood trauma and fear of intimacy. This, in turn, may mitigate the detrimental effects of challenging childhood experiences on an individual's ability to engage in intimacy and cultivate emotional closeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the correlation between childhood trauma and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors among high school students. Additionally, it examines the mediating role of stress perception and the moderating role of the teacher-student relationship in this association. A questionnaire survey was administered to 1,329 high school students in Yunnan Province to assess childhood trauma, NSSI behaviors, and stress perception. Firstly, the survey revealed a 12% prevalence of NSSI, with girls exhibiting a higher occurrence compared to boys (OR = 0.413, 95% CI: 0.280–0.609). Secondly, childhood trauma emerged as a significant predictor of NSSI behavior, irrespective of gender or whether the individual was an only child (r = 0.17, P < 0.01). Thirdly, stress perception functioned as a mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and NSSI among high school students (t = 4.65, P < 0.01). The mediation effect occupies 26.56% of the total effect. Furthermore, the teacher-student relationship moderated the mediating effect of stress perception on the link between childhood trauma and NSSI (β = 0.0736, P < 0.01). Notably, individuals with strong teacher-student relationships exhibited a significant elevation in stress perception upon exposure to childhood trauma. The findings of this study support a moderated mediation model in the association between childhood trauma and NSSI, suggesting profound implications for the development of targeted interventions and prevention strategies among high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood trauma is a potential threat to depression and can have a lifelong impact on the mental health of university students. Our study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, psychache, ambivalence over emotional expression, physical activity, and depression in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three universities in China, recruiting 476 university students using self-report questionnaires. The moderated mediation model was examined using the SPSS PROCESS model 21. Results: Ambivalence over emotional expression (F=12.843), childhood trauma (F=117.639), and psychache (F=581.594) all had a significant positive effect on depression (p<0.001), explaining 2.9%, 21.7%, and 56.8% of the variance, respectively. On the chain of influence between childhood trauma and depression, the mediating effect of psychache, the moderating effect of ambivalence over emotional expression, and the moderating effect of physical activity are all significant the overall indirect effect value of the three is 0.287, accounting for 61.59% of the total effect. Conclusion: This study investigated the relationship between childhood trauma, ambivalence over emotional expression, psychache, physical activity, and depression in university students. Future interventions should focus on developing good emotional expression among university students, increasing opportunities for physical activity, and reducing psychache to reduce depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive knowledge of factors causing and sustaining functional impairment in patients with affective disorders is warranted. The aim is to investigate associations between clinical factors (such as affective symptoms) and personal factors (such as personality traits, coping strategies, and childhood trauma experiences) on functioning and improvement of functioning in patients with affective disorders. This exploratory study includes data from 103 patients with bipolar disorder and unipolar depressive disorder. Clinician-rated functioning was assessed at baseline using the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), and performance-based functioning was assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Data on clinical and personal factors were collected at baseline. Personal factors were measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPQ), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the association of clinical and personal factors with baseline functioning (FAST) and to identify predictors of improvement in functioning (AMPS) from baseline to follow-up. At baseline, greater depressive symptom severity, the personality trait neuroticism, emotional coping, and childhood trauma all correlated with poorer functioning (higher FAST scores). In multiple linear regression models, depression severity, emotional coping and childhood trauma were significant predictors of poorer functioning. More childhood trauma was a predictor of less functional improvement measured by AMPS at 6-month follow-up. In conclusion, maladaptive coping styles and depressive symptoms contribute to functional impairment in patients with affective disorders, while childhood trauma has a negative impact on long-term functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with intellectual disabilities are at heightened risk for traumatization, though underserved due to silos of care, diagnostic overshadowing, and lack of adapted treatment. Trauma‐Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF‐CBT), an evidence‐based childhood trauma therapy, is described with recommended adaptations for use with children who have intellectual disabilities. Method: We present a suggested theoretical and clinical guide for treating children with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. We explicate key functional domains of intellectual disabilities—comprehension, executive functions, and generalization—as the basis for tailoring the treatment model. Results: Therapy recommendations are organized into a heuristic 'matrix' of resources and adaptations to TF‐CBT components, based on clinical experience and research literature, illustrated with composite case vignettes. Conclusion: Children with intellectual disabilities are a uniquely vulnerable population historically excluded from clinical trauma interventions and research but can respond to adapted care. Considerations for future research and dissemination are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing of trauma exposure is a risk factor for the development of psychopathology in adulthood. We aim to assess the presence of adverse life events (ALEs) before age 13 in patients with eating disorders (ED). Specifically, we examined the relationship between exposure to interpersonal trauma before the age of 13 and body image distortion (BID), impulsivity, and perfectionism. We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study in which 79 outpatients with ED were consecutively enrolled. Assessment was performed using the Traumatic Life Event Questionnaire, Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and Eating Disorder Inventory. Linear regression models were used to analyze the predictive role of interpersonal trauma before age 13 on BID perfectionism and impulsivity. Seventy-two patients (91.1%) reported ALEs throughout their lives. Patients with trauma before age 13 (55.6%) overestimated their shape. Patients with ED and bulimic symptoms had significantly higher BID levels. Interpersonal trauma predicted higher levels of impulsivity and perfectionism. Experiencing interpersonal ALEs before age 13 may be a risk factor for the development of BID, impulsivity, and perfectionism in adulthood. Body image can be modified during childhood through interventions focused on identifying stressful relationships. Plain language summary: Childhood is important for the construction of self-image. When people feel threatened in relationships they trust, they feel ashamed and guilty. These emotions could lead to ED and BID. To explore this, we conducted a study on how ALEs during childhood influence the way we perceive our bodies. We asked participants with ED to close their eyes and sense their bodies. We then invited them to choose a shape from a list of nine figures with different shapes. Participants who experienced childhood trauma chose a shape that was distorted with respect to their actual figure. We believe that closing the eyes connects people to their inner emotions and influences their body appreciation. This will help patients identify and treat negative emotions so that they feel more comfortable with their bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood traumatic experiences have been associated with hypersexuality and sexual dysfunctions. However, the mediators of the interactions between these variables should be clarified in men. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the interaction of early traumatic experiences, psychopathology, and sexuality with respect to erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypersexual behavior. The hypothesized model expected that traumatic experiences would be associated with hypersexual behavior and reduced sexual functioning through the mediation of body uneasiness and psychological distress. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and observational. A total of 317 men were enrolled. Male patients with a primary complaint of ED and an indication for psychiatry referral represented the clinical sample (n = 116; mean ± SD age, 42.82 ± 16.89 years). Clinical classification was assessed with the Structured Interview on Erectile Dysfunction. The second sample (n = 201, 30.82 ± 11.94 years) was recruited from the general population. All participants were administered the following questionnaires: Brief Symptom Inventory, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form, Hypersexual Behavior Inventory, Body Uneasiness Test–A, and 5-item International Index of Erectile Function. Outcomes: Psychopathology and sexual functioning were assessed by a dimensional approach, and a multivariate model was computed by structural equation model analysis. Results: When compared with the sample from the general population, the clinical sample exhibited a higher prevalence of early traumatic experiences, as measured by scores on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (45.08 ± 14.25 vs 39.03 ± 10.22, F = 17.63, P < .001), and a higher tendency to engage in hypersexual behaviors (34.63 ± 13.55 vs 30.79 ± 12.44, F = 6.97, P < .01). Structural equation model analysis showed excellent fit indices indicating that early traumatic experiences predicted hypersexual behaviors and ED through the exacerbating mediating effect of body uneasiness and psychopathology. Clinical Implications: Clinicians should not limit their attention to the behavioral level when assessing sexual dysfunction in men; rather, they should also consider the complex psychopathologic consequences of childhood trauma. Integrated treatments that address the potential presence of childhood trauma with its wider psychological correlates (eg, emotion dysregulation, body uneasiness) might improve treatment response. Strengths and Limitations: The study reports novel data on the relationship among childhood maltreatment, male sexuality, and psychopathologic mediators with a dimensional assessment. However, the assessment was cross-sectional, and causality was mainly derived from previous studies. Conclusion: The present study enriches the current literature, strengthening the hypothesis that childhood traumatic experiences significantly shape development and sexuality. Body uneasiness and psychopathology can both tax sexual functioning, as assessed by erectile functioning or hypersexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissociation is a multifaceted phenomenon that occurs in various mental disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), but also in non-clinical populations. Severity of childhood trauma (abuse, neglect) plays an important role in the development of dissociation and BPD. However, the complex interplay of different dissociative symptoms, BPD features, and self-reported childhood trauma experiences is not yet fully understood. Graph-theoretical network analysis can help to better understand such multivariate interrelations. Objective: This study aimed to investigate associations between self-reported dissociation, BPD features, and childhood trauma experiences using a graph-theoretical approach. Data was collected online via international mental health platforms and research sites. N = 921 individuals (77.4% female) were included; 40% reported pathological levels of dissociation. Variables were assessed with established psychometric scales (Dissociative Experiences Scale; Personality Assessment Inventory Borderline Features Scale; Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and analyzed within a partial correlation network. Positive bivariate correlations between all variables were found. When accounting for their mutual influence on each other, dissociation was predominantly connected to BPD features with effect sizes between rp =.028 and rp =.126, while still showing a slight unique relationship with physical neglect (rp =.044). Findings suggest close associations between dissociative experiences and BPD features. While childhood trauma plays an important role in the development of dissociation and BPD, its recall may not fully explain their current co-occurrence. Prospective studies are needed to shed more light on causal pathways to better understand which factors contribute to dissociation and its link to BPD (features). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As opioid use-related behaviors continue at epidemic proportions, identifying the root causes of these behaviors is critical. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are shown to be an important predictor of opioid initiation, opioid dependence, and lifetime opioid overdose. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the association between ACEs and opioid use-related behaviors later in life and to discuss implications for policy, practice, and research regarding ACEs and opioids. Five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline, and Scopus) were used to identify studies investigating the association between ACEs and opioid use-related behaviors. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 20 studies out of the initial 428 met the inclusion criteria for this review. Among the included 20 studies, 15 focused on the relationship between ACEs and lifetime opioid use-related behaviors, and five focused on current opioid use-related behaviors. All studies found statistical associations between ACEs and lifetime or current opioid use-related behaviors. Five studies found a significant gradient effect; that is, as the number of ACEs increased, the risk of opioid use-related behaviors also increased. A significant dose–response relationship exists between ACEs and opioid use-related behaviors. Hence, it is essential for clinicians to screen for ACEs before prescribing opioid medications, for opioid treatment to incorporate trauma-informed methods, and for messaging around opioid use interventions to include information about ACEs. The current review points to a critical need to implement standardized ACE screening instruments in clinical and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N -acetylasparate and lactate are two prominent brain metabolites closely related to mitochondrial functioning. Prior research revealing lower levels of NAA and higher levels of lactate in the cerebral cortex of patients with schizophrenia suggest possible abnormalities in the energy supply pathway necessary for brain function. Given that stress and adversity are a strong risk factor for a variety of mental health problems, including psychotic disorders, we investigated the hypothesis that stress contributes to abnormal neuroenergetics in patients with schizophrenia. To test this hypothesis, we used the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) to comprehensively assess the lifetime stressor exposure profiles of 35 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 33 healthy controls who were also assessed with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at the anterior cingulate cortex using 3 Tesla scanner. Consistent with the hypothesis, greater lifetime stressor exposure was significantly associated with lower levels of N -acetylasparate (β = −0.36, p =.005) and higher levels of lactate (β = 0.43, p =.001). Moreover, these results were driven by patients, as these associations were significant for the patient but not control group. Though preliminary, these findings suggest a possible role for stress processes in the pathophysiology of abnormal neuroenergetics in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature increasingly recognizes the prevalence of childhood trauma (CT) history in forensic settings. Patients in forensic settings are likely to engage in self-harm, violence, and encounter multiple hospital admissions. We aimed to investigate CT history in a low secure forensic population and examine associations between specific types of CTs and three clinical outcomes: self-harm, in-hospital violence, and number of hospital admissions. A retrospective case file review was employed. A data capture sheet was developed using items from two Childhood Trauma Questionnaires. Data was collected from case files of male patients within a low secure forensic setting (n = 93). CTs were documented if they occurred before the age of 18 years old. Associations were examined between CT and the clinical outcomes using a series of logistic regression analyses. Eighty-five percent of patients had experienced CT and 60.3% had been exposed to two or more types of CT. There were no significant associations between CT and the clinical outcomes. Findings expose the high prevalence of CT experienced by patients in a low secure hospital. Additionally, high rates of CT with low rates of PTSD also suggest potential diagnostic overshadowing. Findings are discussed with reference to trauma-informed care treatment approaches in forensic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The objective of the current study was to describe and analyse associations between childhood emotional abuse, severity of depressive symptoms, and analgesic expectations of drinking in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods A total of 240 individuals aged 43.85 ± 11.0 with severe AUD entering an inpatient, abstinence-based, and drug-free treatment program were assessed. The data on AUD severity, depressive symptoms, expectations towards the analgesic effects of alcohol and childhood emotional trauma was collected using questionnaire measures. The PROCESS SPSS macro for serial mediation with bootstrapping was used to test whether current severity of depressive symptoms and expectations towards analgesic effects of alcohol use serially mediated the association between childhood emotional abuse on AUD symptom severity. Results There was evidence for two simple mediated effects, whereby the severity of depressive symptoms mediated the association between childhood emotional abuse on AUD symptom severity, and expectations towards analgesic effects of alcohol mediated the association between childhood emotional abuse on AUD symptom severity. There was also evidence to support serial mediation whereby both severity of depressive symptoms and expectations towards analgesic effects of alcohol mediated the association between childhood emotional abuse on AUD symptom severity. Conclusions It might be clinically relevant to address experiences of childhood emotional trauma, as well as individual expectations of analgesic effects of alcohol, in AUD treatment programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men who have a history of childhood maltreatment may be at risk of experiencing significant challenges during the transition to parenthood, which might be explained by the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Using a nonclinical community sample of 230 expecting fathers, the aims of the current study were as follows (1) to investigate, during the prenatal period, associations between childhood maltreatment and perceived parental competence as well as between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence, and (2) to evaluate whether PTSD symptoms contributed to explaining these associations. A structural equation model showed that the severity of childhood maltreatment predicted more severe PTSD symptoms, which in turn predicted higher levels of intimate partner violence as well as a lower perceived parental competence. No direct associations between childhood maltreatment and both perceived parental competence and intimate partner violence were observed. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood trauma can exert a negative influence in the lives of young children. Yet, while Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals are perfectly positioned to support children exposed to such trauma, extant research reports a scarcity of bespoke trauma awareness training for the ECEC profession. The aim of the current study served to explore the trauma awareness knowledge, strategies, and training of the ECEC profession in the Republic of Ireland. A comprehensive survey instrument, comprising 45 items across 5 Thematic Domains related to trauma knowledge and training, was disseminated to ECEC professionals nationwide. With a response rate of 1053 participants, key findings revealed (i) a fragmented understanding of what constitutes childhood trauma, and (ii) a significant association between lower levels of educational attainment and trauma education (Initial Practitioner Education, p = 0.000; Continuous Professional Development, p = 0.039). Further, 95% of participants called for context-specific, trauma awareness training, substantiating the voracious appetite for this crucial cog in the ECEC learning continuum, and thus reflecting the need for urgent reform to address and support the complexities of childhood trauma in ECEC discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Negative childhood experiences and emotional distress can influence the quality of a relationship. The present study identifies these factors to explain the structural pattern of relationship quality based on childhood trauma and distress with the mediating role of psychological adaptation. Methods: This is an applied study regarding objectives and a descriptive-correlational structural equation-type study regarding implementation. The statistical population includes men and women (aged 18-60 years) in Tehran City, Iran in 2020-2021, of which 444 people were selected using the convenience sampling method. Study instruments include the childhood trauma questionnaire, psychological distress, qualitative relationship quality, and personality assessment questionnaire for adults. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 21, and Amos software, version 21 using structural equation modeling. Results: Childhood trauma (β=-0.135), psychological distress (β=-0.198), and psychological adaptation (β=-0.256) have direct and negative effects (P<0.01) on relationship quality and childhood trauma (β=-0.082). Meanwhile, psychological distress (β=-0.146) has an indirect effect through psychological adaptation (P<0.01) which has a negative and significant impact on relationship quality. The fit indices of the structural model after minor modifications were all at an acceptable level and the model was assessed to show a good fit to the data. Conclusion: Psychological adaption mediates the relationship between childhood trauma psychological distress and relationship quality. Therefore, it is beneficial to develop interventions that regulate emotions, reduce the impact of trauma on children, and improve mental adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Academic procrastination is a common issue among students that significantly impacts their educational outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of childhood trauma on academic procrastination and examine the mediating role of identity crisis among female high school students in Karaj, Iran. This research aimed to elucidate the complex interrelationships between personal trauma, identity development, and educational behaviors. Methods and Materials: The study utilized a descriptive correlational design, employing structural equation modeling to analyze the data. A total of 384 female high school students from Karaj participated in the study. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Identity Crisis Questionnaire, and various measures of academic procrastination related to different academic tasks. Statistical analysis was performed using SmartPLS to assess direct and indirect relationships among the variables. Findings: The results revealed significant direct effects of childhood trauma on academic procrastination (β = .201, p < .001) and identity crisis (β = .290, p < .001). Furthermore, identity crisis significantly mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and academic procrastination (indirect effect β = .091, p < .001). These findings underscore the profound influence of early adverse experiences and identity struggles on academic behaviors. Conclusion: The study concludes that childhood trauma and identity crisis are significant predictors of academic procrastination. Identity crisis mediates the impact of childhood trauma on procrastination, suggesting that interventions addressing both psychological healing and identity development could be beneficial in reducing procrastinatory behaviors among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Despite growing recognition that unfortunately common maternal stress exposures in childhood and pregnancy may have intergenerational impacts on childrens psychiatric health, studies rarely take a life course approach. With child psychopathology on the rise, the identification of modifiable risk factors is needed to promote maternal and child well-being. In this study, we examined associations of maternal exposure to childhood traumatic events (CTE) and pregnancy stressful life events (PSLE) with child mental health problems in a large, sociodemographically diverse sample. METHODS: Participants were mother-child dyads in the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortiums harmonized data across three U.S. pregnancy cohorts. Women completed questionnaires regarding their own exposure to CTE and PSLE, and their 4-6-year-old childs mental health problems using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Regression analyses estimated associations between stressors and child total behavior problems, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Among 1948 dyads (child age M = 5.13 (SD = 1.02) years; 38% Black, 44% White; 8.5% Hispanic), maternal history of CTE and PSLE were independently associated with childrens psychopathology: higher CTE and PSLE counts were related to higher total problems ([ßCTE = 0.11, 95% CI [.06, .16]; ßSLE = 0.21, 95% CI [.14, 0.27]) and greater odds of clinical levels of problems (ORCTE = 1.41; 95% CI [1.12, 1.78]; ORPSLE = 1.36; 95% CI [1.23, 1.51]). Tests of interaction showed PSLEs were more strongly associated with child problems for each additional CTE experienced. CONCLUSION: Findings confirm that maternal exposure to CTE and PSLE are independently associated with child mental health, and history of CTE exacerbates the risk associated with PSLE, highlighting intergenerational risk pathways for early psychopathology. Given the prevalence of these exposures, prevention and intervention programs that reduce childhood trauma and stress during pregnancy will likely positively impact womens and their childrens health.

Abstract Background Traumatic childhood experiences are a major risk factor for developing mental disorders later in life. Over the past decade, researchers have begun to investigate the role of early trauma in impairments in personality functioning following the introduction of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders in Section III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5. Although first studies were able to empirically demonstrate a significant link between early trauma and impairments in personality functioning, only little is known about the underlying mechanisms. One possible mechanism is body connection due to its involvement in self-regulatory processes and its link to both early trauma and personality (dys)functioning. Objective In the current study, we investigated whether body connection, which encompasses the awareness, integration, and utilization of one’s own bodily signals, mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and personality functioning. Participants and setting A total of 1,313 adult participants recruited in Germany and Chile anonymously provided self-report data in an online survey. Methods Self-report data included the short form of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Scale of Body Connection (SBC), and the brief form of the Levels of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS-BF 2.0) as well as demographic data (age, sex, education, clinical diagnoses). Results Traumatic childhood experiences explained 27.2% of the variance in impairments in personality functioning. Interestingly, 60.5% of this effect was explained by body connection, particularly body dissociation. Additional exploratory analyses revealed that body dissociation and, to a much lesser extent, body awareness, accounted for 64.41% of the variance in self functioning and 55.75% of the variance in interpersonal functioning explained by childhood trauma. Conclusion Body connection appears to be an important mediator in the association between early trauma and impaired personality functioning, underscoring the need for interventions specifically targeting the avoidance and ignorance of signals from one’s own body in individuals with traumatic childhood trauma.

Abstract Background Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a psychological emergency requiring rapid intervention, hospitalization and psychiatric management. However, PP has been neglected in the postpartum literature. Understanding the detrimental consequences of childhood trauma across mother’s life span is crucial to prevent this serious condition. The study’s objectives were to demonstrate the relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences (PPEs) and to look over the mediating role of postnatal depression (PD) and anxiety (PA) in this relationship. Methods This cross-sectional study, which enrolled 438 postpartum females 4–6 weeks after delivery (mean age: 31.23 ± 5.24 years), was carried out from September 2022 to June 2023. The Arabic validated versions of the Postpartum Psychotic Experiences Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, and the Child Abuse Self Report Scale were used. Results Both PD and PA partially mediated the correlation between psychological abuse and PPEs, and fully mediated the association between neglect and PPEs. Higher psychological abuse and neglect were significantly associated with higher PD (Beta = 1.11) and PA (Beta = 3.94), higher PD (Beta = 0.84) and PA (Beta = 0.26) were significantly associated with higher PPEs in both models, whereas greater child psychological abuse (Beta = 1.37) (but not neglect) was directly and strongly correlated with higher PPEs in all models. Conclusion The significant mediating effect of PA and PD on the association between childhood adversities and PPEs among postpartum females may offer additional therapeutic avenues to help attenuate various postpartum mental health issues and their potential serious risks on both mother and child.

Abstract Background Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a serious problem in the adolescent population worldwide. Childhood trauma and bullying have been identified as risk factors for NSSI. We explored the relationships among Childhood trauma, Bullying victimization and the severity of NSSI behaviours, and test the effect of Bullying victimization in mediating the association between Childhood trauma and the NSSI behaviours. Methods A total of 123 adolescents were recruited. They were diagnosed with depression or depressive episodes of bipolar disorder and had experienced NSSI in the last year. They were assessed using the Chinese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-C), the Revised Olweus Bullying Victimization Questionnaire (OBVQ-R), and the Adolescent Self-Harm Questionnaire (ASHQ). Results Females presented a significantly greater prevalence of sexual abuse and relationship bullying than boys. Individuals in the younger age group (10–14 years) presented a greater incidence of emotional neglect, verbal bullying, relationship bullying, and total bullying, and their NSSI score was also higher than that of those in the older age group (15–19 years). Only children show a greater prevalence of sexual abuse than nononly children. Single-parent families scored higher on emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect and physical bullying than two-parent families. There was a significant positive correlation between each dimension of childhood trauma and all the dimensions of bullying, between childhood trauma and NSSI, and between bullying and NSSI. Childhood trauma can not only directly affect the severity of NSSI but also indirectly aggravate the severity of NSSI through bullying victimization. The mediating effects of bullying victimization on emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect were 14%, 21%, 20%, 13% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion There was a significant positive correlation between childhood trauma and bullying, between childhood trauma and NSSI, and between bullying and NSSI. Childhood trauma can not only directly affect the severity of NSSI but also indirectly aggravate the severity of NSSI through bullying victimization. Bullying victimization played the partial mediating effects between Childhood trauma and NSSI.

Abstract Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive, compulsive behaviors, with childhood trauma recognized as a contributing factor to its pathophysiology. This study aimed to delineate brain functional aberrations in OCD patients and explore the association between these abnormalities and childhood trauma, to gain insights into the neural underpinnings of OCD. Forty-eight drug-naive OCD patients and forty-two healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessments, including the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y–BOCS) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF). Compared to HCs, OCD patients exhibited significantly decreased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the right cerebellum, decreased regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the right cerebellum and right superior occipital lobes (FWE-corrected p