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Childhood trauma, perceived stress and anhedonia in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: multigroup mediation analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2023

Kathleen J. O'Brien Open the ORCID record for Kathleen J. O'Brien [Opens in a new window] ,
Arielle Ered ,
Stephanie A. Korenic ,
Thomas M. Olino ,
Jason Schiffman ,
Vijay A. Mittal  and
Lauren M. Ellman
Kathleen J. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Arielle Ered
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Stephanie A. Korenic
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Thomas M. Olino
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Jason Schiffman
Affiliation:
University of Maryland Baltimore County, Department of Psychology and University of California Irvine, Department of Psychology
Vijay A. Mittal
Affiliation:
Northwestern University, Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Lauren M. Ellman*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
*
Correspondence: Lauren M. Ellman. Email: lauren.ellman@temple.edu
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Abstract

Background

Evidence suggests that both childhood trauma and perceived stress are risk factors for the development of psychosis, as well as negative symptoms such as anhedonia. Previous findings link increases in perceived stress to anhedonia in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) and depression; however, the role of childhood trauma in this relationship has not yet been explored, despite consistent evidence that it is associated with sensitisation to later stress.

Aims

To examine whether perceived stress mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and anhedonia in a group of youth at CHR as well as in controls (groups with depression and with no diagnosed mental health concerns).

Method

The study used multigroup mediation to examine the indirect effects of childhood trauma on anhedonia via perceived stress in CHR (n = 117) and depression groups (n = 284) and non-psychiatric controls (n = 124).

Results

Perceived stress mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and consummatory anhedonia regardless of group status. Perceived stress mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and anticipatory anhedonia for the CHR and depression groups, but not for non-psychiatric controls. Further, groups differed in the magnitude of this relationship, with the effects trending towards stronger for those in the CHR group.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a potential transdiagnostic pathway through which childhood trauma contributes to anhedonia across severe mental illness.

Keywords

Traumapsychotic disorderschildhood experiencedepressive disorderscomorbidity
Type
Paper
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 223 , Special Issue 1: Themed Issue: Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia , July 2023 , pp. 273 - 279
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

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