A team of scholars fromUniversity of Hertfordshirehas shown for the first time, in new research, a strong correlation between childhood emotional abuse and schizophrenia-like episodes in adulthood, in healthy subjects such as: auditory hallucinations, paranoia and social withdrawal.
The results of the study have been published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
Childhood emotional abuse and schizophrenia-like episodes: Here’s what the research says
THE researchers stated that those who experienced emotional abuse in early childhood are 3.5 times more likely to have schizophrenia-like experiences in adulthood. The scholars also said that the more significant the abuse, the more severe the schizophrenia-like experiences experienced by healthy adults.
The research is the first to summarize and quantify studies, 25 in total, that explored the relationship between traumatic childhood emotional abuse and schizophrenic-like experiences in more than 15,000 healthy adults. In order to develop the study, researchers at the University of Hertfordshire analyzed the results of past research to see if specific types of abuse, such as emotional, sexual and physical abuse, as well as emotional and physical neglect, increased likely to have schizophrenia-like experiences in old age.
Scientists have revealed a much stronger link between childhood emotional abuse and schizophrenic-like experiences in adulthood than other types of childhood abuse. The relationship between childhood trauma and schizophrenia, a serious mental health condition, is well known. However, far less research has examined the impact of childhood trauma on the prevalence of less severe schizophrenia-like experiences in healthy adults.
The researchers believe their findings could show that schizophrenia is a condition on a spectrum, like autism, in which healthy people can have schizophrenia-like episodes without reaching the diagnosable threshold. Doctor Diamantis Toutountzidisresearcher ofUniversity of Hertfordshirecoordinated this research under the supervision of Keith LawsProfessor of Neuropsychology at the University.
Dr Toutountzidis stated that “Emotional abuse differs from other types of abuse. They are more prevalent, often occurring over longer periods of time, and not treated by the law in the same way as physical and sexual abuse ”.
“Our research has shown a significant link between childhood emotional abuse and schizophrenia-like experiences in healthy adults, and that emotional abuse is a stronger predictor of schizophrenia-like experiences than other types of abuse. This is something that specialists in mental suffering should consider when looking for the root causes of schizophrenia-like experiences in people who suffer from it.
Professor Laws added that their “Research has opened the door to future studies that help better understand how specific types of childhood emotional abuse are linked to specific schizophrenia-like experiences much later in life. It will also help us begin to understand why such trauma is linked to disorders such as schizophrenia in some, while others experience milder manageable experiences. “.
As for people diagnosed with schizophrenia who have suffered childhood emotional abuse, they can now benefit from personalized therapies and self-enhancement.. Orygen Researchers, the National Center of Excellence for Youth Mental Health; the University of Melbourne; Port Phillip Prison and Gran Canaria University Hospital, Dr Negrin, Spain have shown that childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse are associated with severe hallucinations in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
The study’s most compelling finding was that hallucinations in those with psychotic disorders were associated with all types of childhood trauma, said Dr. Sarah Bendallhead of trauma research at Orygen: “This means that there is something about childhood trauma that causes some people to hallucinateSaid Dr. Bendall.
The meta-analysis, which analyzed 29 studies on childhood trauma and psychotic symptoms, also found that childhood sexual abuse was associated with delusions.. The study, published in the scientific journal Schizophrenia Bulletinprovided the missing piece that completed the picture of the link between emotional and sexual abuse in early childhood and delusions and hallucinations.
Dr Bendall said providing this evidence was a crucial first step in developing tailored, sensitive and effective treatments for trauma-based psychotic symptoms. About one in 100 people will experience a psychotic disorder in their life, with most symptoms developing between the ages of 18 and 25. Psychotic symptoms can include detachment from reality, hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and a lack of motivation or emotion.
So far, treatments for trauma in psychosis have focused on PTSD rather than specific symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Doctor Bendall said the new research will not only help refine treatments for patients with psychotic disorders, but it could also help empower young patients.
“When young people go to mental health services, we should evaluate emerging psychotic trauma and symptoms and treat them as they emerge “said Dr. Bendall: “We can also provide young people with some of this research knowledge and then they can make decisions about the factors that may have caused their psychosis to develop or continue. It is very empowering to be able to provide people with that information. “
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