Cited by 584Child Abuse and TraumaSchizophrenia research and treatmentChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Childhood Trauma and Children's Emerging Psychotic Symptoms: A Genetically Sensitive Longitudinal Cohort Study

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Arseneault, Louise, Cannon, Mary, Fisher, Helen L., Polanczyk, Guilherme, Moffitt, Terrie E., Caspi, Avshalom·2011·American Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Using longitudinal and prospective measures of trauma during childhood, the authors assessed the risk of developing psychotic symptoms associated with maltreatment, bullying, and accidents in a nationally representative U.K. cohort of young twins. METHOD: Data were from the Environmental Risk Longitudinal Twin Study, which follows 2,232 twin children and their families. Mothers were interviewed during home visits when children were ages 5, 7, 10, and 12 on whether the children had experienced maltreatment by an adult, bullying by peers, or involvement in an accident. At age 12, children were asked about bullying experiences and psychotic symptoms. Children's reports of psychotic symptoms were verified by clinicians. RESULTS: Children who experienced mal-treatment by an adult (relative risk=3.16, 95% CI=1.92-5.19) or bullying by peers (relative risk=2.47, 95% CI=1.74-3.52) were more likely to report psychotic symptoms at age 12 than were children who did not experience such traumatic events. The higher risk for psychotic symptoms was observed whether these events occurred early in life or later in childhood. The risk associated with childhood trauma remained significant in analyses controlling for children's gender, socioeconomic deprivation, and IQ; for children's early symptoms of internalizing or externalizing problems; and for children's genetic liability to developing psychosis. In contrast, the risk associated with accidents was small (relative risk=1.47, 95% CI=1.02-2.13) and inconsistent across ages. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma characterized by intention to harm is associated with children's reports of psychotic symptoms. Clinicians working with children who report early symptoms of psychosis should inquire about traumatic events such as maltreatment and bullying.

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Authors
Arseneault, L., Cannon, M., Fisher, H. L., Polanczyk, G., Moffitt, T. E., & Caspi, A.
Affiliations
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (IE)
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Published
2011-01
Volume
168
Issue
1
Pages
65-72
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
OpenAlex
W2120064534
Cited by
584
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 37
FWCI
36.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Scientific Electronic Library Online (São Paulo Research Foundation, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (CSA/01/05/001)
  • Economic and Social Research Council (ES/H034897/1)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH-077874, R01MH077874)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD061298, R01HD061298)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
childhood trauma, psychotic symptoms, child abuse, bullying, childhood accidents, twin cohort, Environmental Risk Longitudinal Twin Study, early-onset psychosis, internalizing and externalizing problems, socioeconomic deprivation
MeSH terms
Accidents, Child, Child Abuse, Diseases in Twins, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Psychotic Disorders, Risk Factors, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Bullying

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