Differential association between childhood trauma subtypes and neurocognitive performance in adults with major depression

• Published in: BMC psychiatry 2024-11, Vol.24 (1), p.773-9, Article 773
• Main Authors: Wang, Min, Wei, Jinxue, Dou, Yikai, Wang, Yu, Fan, Huanhuan, Yan, Yushun, Du, Yue, Zhao, Liansheng, Wang, Qiang, Yang, Xiao, Ma, Xiaohong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abuse; Adult; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse - psychology; Adults; Adverse Childhood Experiences - psychology; Age; Analysis; Attention - physiology; Batteries; Care and treatment; Case-Control Studies; Child development; Child sexual abuse; Childhood; Childhood physical neglect; Childhood sexual abuse; Children; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - psychology; Cognitive flexibility; Cognitive psychology; Complications and side effects; Decision making; Depressive Disorder, Major - complications; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Diagnosis; Education; Emotions; Evaluation; Executive function; Executive Function - physiology; Female; Flexibility; Humans; Intellectual development; Major depressive disorder; Male; Measuring techniques; Memory; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychic trauma in children; Psychology; Psychotropic drugs; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Trauma; Variables; Vigilance; Visual perception; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-244X; 1471-244X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-06226-9

Neurocognitive impairment is one of the prominent manifestations of major depressive disorder (MDD). Childhood trauma enhances vulnerability to developing MDD and contributes to neurocognitive dysfunctions. However, the distinct impacts of different types of childhood trauma on neurocognitive processes in MDD remain unclear. This study comprised 186 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 268 healthy controls. Childhood trauma was evaluated using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Neurocognitive abilities, encompassing sustained attention, vigilance, visual memory, and executive functioning, were measured by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery. Multivariable linear regressions revealed that childhood trauma and MDD diagnosis were independently associated with neurocognitive impairment. Physical neglect was associated with impaired visual memory and working memory. MDD diagnosis is associated with working memory and planning. Interactive analysis revealed that physical/sexual abuse was associated with a high level of vigilance and that emotional neglect was linked with better performance on cognitive flexibility in MDD patients. Furthermore, childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and emotional neglect were revealed to be risk factors for developing early-onset, chronic depressive episodes. Thus, specific associations between various childhood traumas and cognitive development in depression are complex phenomena that need further study.