Citation

Kisely SR, Strathearn L, Najman JM. J. Acad. Consult. Liaison Psychiatry 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.02.003

PMID

35176517

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Health anxiety is a subtype of the older term of hypochondriasis, in which there is worry rather than conviction of having an illness. Information on the association between childhood maltreatment and health anxiety in adulthood often comes from retrospective questionnaires that may be subject to recall bias. There are no prospective data studies using reports to statutory agencies.

OBJECTIVE: We therefore assessed the effect on these outcomes at 30-year follow-up using both prospective agency notifications of child abuse and retrospective self-reports in the same birth cohort.

METHODS: At follow-up, there were 2458 adults with data on health anxiety as measured by the Whiteley Index (WI). We also collected details on self-reported abuse with the Child Trauma Questionnaire and linked this to child maltreatment notifications to statutory agencies.

RESULTS: The prevalence of self- and agency-reported maltreatment was 600 (24.4%) and 143 (5.8%) respectively. Of the participants, 235 were in the top 10% of WI scores. On adjusted analyses, self-reported maltreatment of all types showed significant associations with increased health anxiety, while this was limited to sexual abuse in the case of agency-reported CM (Adj OR= 2.17; 95%CIs=1.06-4.46; p= 0.034). Effects were strongest in women.

CONCLUSIONS: Both self- and agency-reported CM showed a significant association with somatic symptoms in adulthood although patterns were different and of varying degrees.

Language: en

Keywords

child maltreatment; Child abuse; adverse child experiences; hypochondriasis; illness anxiety; somatic symptoms