Gender differences in the association between childhood abuse and psychosis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender differences in the association between childhood abuse and psychosis

AU - Fisher, Helen

AU - Morgan, Craig

AU - Dazzan, Paola

AU - Craig, Thomas K.

AU - Morgan, Kevin

AU - Hutchinson, Gerard

AU - Jones, Peter B.

AU - Doody, Gillian A.

AU - Pariante, Carmine

AU - McGuffin, Peter

AU - Murray, Robin M.

AU - Leff, Julian

AU - Fearon, Paul

PY - 2009/4

Y1 - 2009/4

N2 - Background Studies demonstrating an association between childhood trauma and psychosis in adulthood have not systematically explored gender differences. Aims To investigate gender differences in the prevalence of childhood sexual and physical abuse among people with psychosis in comparison with healthy controls. Method The Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse Questionnaire was completed to elicit experiences of sexual and physical abuse during childhood in first-episode psychosis cases and population-based controls. Results Among women, those in the cases group were twice as likely to report either physical or sexual abuse compared with controls following adjustment for all confounders. In particular, the effect of physical abuse in women was stronger and more robust than that for sexual abuse. A similar trend was found for psychotic-like experiences in the female control group. No association was found in men. Conclusions Reports of severe childhood physical or sexual abuse were associated with psychosis in women but not in men.

AB - Background Studies demonstrating an association between childhood trauma and psychosis in adulthood have not systematically explored gender differences. Aims To investigate gender differences in the prevalence of childhood sexual and physical abuse among people with psychosis in comparison with healthy controls. Method The Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse Questionnaire was completed to elicit experiences of sexual and physical abuse during childhood in first-episode psychosis cases and population-based controls. Results Among women, those in the cases group were twice as likely to report either physical or sexual abuse compared with controls following adjustment for all confounders. In particular, the effect of physical abuse in women was stronger and more robust than that for sexual abuse. A similar trend was found for psychotic-like experiences in the female control group. No association was found in men. Conclusions Reports of severe childhood physical or sexual abuse were associated with psychosis in women but not in men.

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.047985

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.047985

M3 - Article

SN - 1472-1465

VL - 194

SP - 319

EP - 325

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - 4

ER -