title: The cumulative effect of different childhood trauma types on self-reported symptoms of adult male depression and PTSD, substance abuse and health-related quality of life in a large active-duty military cohort.
abstract: History of childhood trauma (CT) is highly prevalent and may lead to long-term consequences on physical and mental health. This study investigated the independent association of CT with symptoms of adult depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as well as current tobacco consumption and alcohol abuse in a large homogenous cohort of 1254 never-deployed, young male Marines enrolled in the Marine Resiliency Study. Independent effects of CT history, number and type of CT on outcomes were analyzed using hierarchical multivariate logistic regression models. Our results suggested dose-dependent negative effect of an increasing number of trauma types of CT on depression, PTSD and HRQoL. Experience of single CT type demonstrated overall weak effects, while history of multiple CT types distinctively increased the likelihood of adult PTSD symptomology (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5-6.2), poor mental (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7-3.1) and physical HRQoL (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9). Risk for depression symptoms was similar for both single and multiple CT (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.8 and OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.5 respectively). CT history had no effects on current tobacco use and alcohol abuse. Our study thus provides evidence for substantial additive effect of different CT types on adult mental and physical health with increasing levels of exposure.
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: a.agorastos@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Agorastos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agorastos
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: James O E
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Angkaw
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nievergelt
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Barkauskas
authors.affiliation: VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address: dgbaker@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Dewleen G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childhood trauma; Depression; Health-related quality of life (HRQoL); Mental health; Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Substance abuse