Factors moderating the relationship between childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment in first-episode schizophrenia
Date
2017-01-20
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Childhood trauma is a recognised risk factor for schizophrenia. It has been proposed that
childhood trauma interferes with normal neurodevelopment, thereby establishing a biological
vulnerability to schizophrenia. Poor premorbid adjustment is frequently a precursor to
schizophrenia, and may be a manifestation of neurodevelopmental compromise. We investigated
the relationship between childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment in 77 patients
with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We also investigated possible mediating
roles for other selected risk factors in the relationship. We found several significant correlations
between different trauma types and both social and academic premorbid adjustment
from childhood to late adolescence. There were no significant moderating effects for family
history of schizophrenia or family history of psychiatric disorder. History of obstetric complications,
substance abuse and poor motor coordination weakened some of the associations
between childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment, while poor sequencing of motor acts
strengthened the association. Our results confirm previous studies indicating an association
between childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment. Results indicate a general rather
than specific association, apparent with different types of trauma, and affecting both social
and academic components of premorbid adjustment across childhood, early and late adolescence.
Further, our results suggest a complex interplay of various risk factors, supporting
the notion of different pathways to psychosis.
Description
CITATION: Kilian, S. et al. 2017. Factors moderating the relationship between childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment in first-episode schizophrenia. PLoS ONE, 12(1):e0170178, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170178.
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone
Keywords
Childhood trauma, Schizophrenia, Psychic trauma
Citation
Kilian, S. et al. 2017. Factors moderating the relationship between childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment in first-episode schizophrenia. PLoS ONE, 12(1):e0170178, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170178.