Childhood trauma and adult mental disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies

Michael T. McKay, Mary Cannon, Derek Chambers, Ronán M. Conroy, Helen Coughlan, Philip Dodd, Colm Healy, Laurie O’Donnell, Mary C. Clarke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

242 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective
To systematically review evidence for the association between trauma experienced in childhood or adolescence, and the subsequent experience of affective or psychotic mental disorders in adulthood.

Methods
Electronic databases (Scopus, Medline (for Ovid), EMBASE and PsychINFO) were searched for peer-reviewed, longitudinal cohort studies in the English language examining child or adolescent exposure to trauma, and adult-diagnosed depression, anxiety, psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder. A total of 23 manuscripts were retained.

Results
Results revealed a significant association between the following childhood exposures and adult mental disorder: bullying (victimhood, perpetration and frequency); emotional abuse; physical neglect; parental loss; and general maltreatment (unspecified and/or multiple trauma exposure). There was some evidence of a dose-response relationship with those exposed to multiple forms of maltreatment having more than three times the odds of developing a mental disorder (Odds ratio = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.36–7.14). There was no significant association found between physical or sexual abuse and adult mental disorder; however, this is likely an artefact of how these adversities were assessed.

Conclusion
There is strong evidence of an association between childhood trauma and later mental illness. This association is particularly evident for exposure to bullying, emotional abuse, maltreatment and parental loss. The evidence suggests that childhood and adolescence are an important time for risk for later mental illness, and an important period in which to focus intervention strategies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189 – 205
Number of pages17
JournalActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Volume143
Issue number3
Early online date14 Dec 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - Mar 2021

Keywords

  • child or adolescent maltreatment
  • child or adolescent abuse
  • bullying
  • parental loss
  • mental disorder
  • risk factor

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