title: The association between trauma and chronic medical conditions in individuals with severe mental illness.
abstract: Based on the concept of allostatic load, this study proposed and evaluated a model for the relationship between childhood trauma, chronic medical conditions, and intervening variables affecting this relationship in individuals with severe mental illness. Childhood trauma, adult trauma, major depressive disorder symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, health risk factors, and chronic medical conditions were retrospectively assessed using a cross-sectional survey design in a sample of 117 individuals with severe mental illness receiving public mental health services. Path analyses produced a good-fitting model, with significant pathways from childhood to adult trauma and from adult trauma to chronic medical conditions. Multisample path analyses revealed the equivalence of the model across sex. The results support a model for the relationship between childhood and adult trauma and chronic medical conditions, which highlights the pathophysiological toll of cumulative trauma experienced across the life span and the pressing need to prevent retraumatization in this population.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Mänoa, Department of Psychology, Sakamaki C 400, Honolulu, HI 96822-2294, USA. drewraab@gmail.com
authors.forename: Phillip Andrew
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.forename: Keith Harvey
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Claypoole
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D052636:Allostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires