The relationship between childhood trauma history and the psychotic subtype of major depression.
OBJECTIVE
Increasing evidence exists linking childhood trauma and primary psychotic disorders, but there is little research on patients with primary affective disorders with psychotic features.


METHODS
The sample consisted of adult out-patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) at clinic intake using a structured clinical interview. Patients with MDD with (n = 32) vs. without psychotic features (n = 591) were compared as to their rates of different types of childhood trauma.


RESULTS
Psychotic MDD patients were significantly more likely to report histories of physical (OR = 2.81) or sexual abuse (OR = 2.75) compared with non-psychotic MDD patients. These relationships remained after controlling for baseline differences. Within the subsample with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder, patients with psychotic MDD were significantly more likely to report childhood physical abuse (OR = 3.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Results support and extend previous research by demonstrating that the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis is found across diagnostic groups.
Gaudiano
B A
BA
Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. brandon_gaudiano@brown.edu
Zimmerman
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires