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An examination of childhood trauma in individuals attending an adult mental health service

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2014

A. P. Wota ,
C. Byrne ,
I. Murray ,
T. Ofuafor ,
Z. Nisar ,
F. Neuner  and
B. P. Hallahan
A. P. Wota
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
C. Byrne
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
I. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
T. Ofuafor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
Z. Nisar
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
F. Neuner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
B. P. Hallahan*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
*
*Address for Correspondence: B. P. Hallahan, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland. (Email: brian.hallahan@nuigalway.ie)
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Abstract

Objectives

Childhood sexual abuse has previously been associated with adult mental health difficulties, however, few studies have evaluated all forms of childhood maltreatment in individuals attending adult mental health services. Consequently, this study investigates the association of five forms of childhood trauma with a range of clinical symptoms and mental health disorders in 136 individuals attending a mental health service in Ireland utilising the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

Method

One hundred and thirty-six patients attending the Roscommon Mental Health Services completed the CTQ and a number of additional psychometric instruments evaluating illness severity, impulsivity, disability and the presence of a personality disorder(s) (PD) to ascertain the prevalence of childhood trauma and any potential associations between childhood trauma and a range of demographic and clinical factors.

Result

Seventy-six per cent of individuals reported childhood trauma, with emotional neglect most frequently reported (61%). Individuals who had experienced childhood trauma had higher rates of clinical symptoms, distress and impulsivity. Substance abuse and paranoid, borderline and antisocial PDs most associated with childhood trauma.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the need to routinely elicit information on all forms of childhood traumatic experiences from patients.

Keywords

Childhood abusemental healthneglectpersonality disorder
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , December 2014 , pp. 259 - 270
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2014 

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