Role of childhood adversity in the development of medical co-morbidities associated with bipolar disorder

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2013-05, Vol.147 (1), p.288-294
• Main Authors: Post, Robert M, Altshuler, Lori L, Leverich, Gabriele S, Frye, Mark A, Suppes, Trisha, McElroy, Susan L, Keck, Paul E, Nolen, Willem A, Kupka, Ralph W, Grunze, Heinz, Rowe, Mike
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Adversity; Affective disorders; Biological and medical sciences; Bipolar affective disorder; Bipolar Disorder - epidemiology; Bipolar Disorder - etiology; Bipolar disorders; Child; Child Abuse; Childhood; Childhood adversity; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Male; Medical conditions; Medical illness; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Obesity; Parents; Physical and sexual abuse; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychosocial stress; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.11.020

Abstract Objective A role for childhood adversity in the development of numerous medical conditions in adults has been described in the general population, but has not been examined in patients with bipolar disorder who have multiple medical comorbidities which contribute to their premature mortality. Methods More than 900 outpatients (average age 41) with bipolar disorder completed questionnaires that included information about the occurrence of verbal, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood and whether their parents had a mood or substance abuse disorder, or a history of suicidality. These factors were combined to form a total childhood adversity score, which was then related to one or more of 30 medical conditions patients rated as present or absent. Results The child adversity score was significantly related to the total number of medical comorbidities a patient had ( p