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Childhood trauma and premorbid adjustment among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and normal control subjects
Author(s) -
Tikka Maria,
Luutonen Sinikka,
Ilonen Tuula,
Tuominen Lauri,
Kotimäki Mika,
Hankala Juha,
Salokangas Raimo K.R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2012.00391.x
Subject(s) - psychosis , psychiatry , psychology , prodrome , clinical psychology , medicine
Aim Traumatic childhood experiences are associated with psychotic illness and are frequently reported in patients at clinical high risk ( CHR ) for psychosis. Moreover, deteriorating premorbid functioning from childhood, and through adolescence, is related to greater severity of overall symptomatology and poorer outcomes in patients with psychosis. We studied the prevalence of traumatic childhood experiences and premorbid adjustment and their association with each other in patients at CHR for psychosis and normal control subjects ( NCS s). Methods A total of 20 CHR patients for psychosis and 30 NCS s aged 14 to 35 participated in the present study. The CHR patients were identified as prodromal to psychosis using the S tructured I nterview for P rodromal S yndromes/ S cale of P rodromal S ymptoms. Premorbid adjustment was assessed by using the premorbid adjustment scale ( PAS ), and self‐reported childhood trauma was assessed with the T rauma and D istress S cale ( TADS ). Results In CHR patients, TADS and PAS scores were higher than in NCS s. In CHR patients, TADS correlated significantly with the PAS general section and observably, but not significantly, with adolescence and adulthood sections. Conclusion CHR patients reported more childhood trauma experiences and poorer premorbid adjustment than NCS s. In CHR patients, traumatic childhood experiences are associated with poor general premorbid adjustment.