TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2005//
TI  - Impact of childhood abuse on the clinical course of bipolar disorder
JO  - British journal of psychiatry
A1  - Garno, Jessica L.
A1  - Goldberg, Joseph F.
A1  - Ramirez, Paul M.
A1  - Ritzler, Barry A.
SP  - 121
EP  - 125
VL  - 186
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Few investigations have examined the impact of childhood trauma, and domains of childhood abuse, on outcome in bipolar disorder. AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence and subtypes of childhood abuse reported by adult patients with bipolar disorder and relationship to clinical outcome. METHOD: Prevalence rates of childhood abuse were retrospectively assessed and examined relative to illness complexity in a sample of 100 patients at an academic specialty centre for the treatment of bipolar disorder. RESULTS: Histories of severe childhood abuse were identified in about half of the sample and were associated with early age at illness onset. Abuse subcategories were strongly inter-related. Severe emotional abuse was significantly associated with lifetime substance misuse comorbidity and past-year rapid cycling. Logistic regression indicated a significant association between lifetime suicide attempts and severe childhood sexual abuse. Multiple forms of abuse showed a graded increase in risk for both suicide attempts and rapid cycling. CONCLUSIONS: Severe childhood trauma appears to have occurred in about half of patients with bipolar disorder, and may lead to more complex psychopathological manifestations.
LA  - 
SN  - 0007-1250
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.186.2.121
ID  - ref1
ER  -