Adult vulnerability for psychiatric disorders: interactive effects of negative childhood experiences and recent stress

Article Abstract:

Much research attention has been directed toward the impact of childhood experiences, particularly negative experiences, on mental health in adulthood. For example, a family history of mental illness has been unquestionably linked with adult psychiatric problems. However, a relationship between adult psychiatric problems and early loss has not been as consistently identified. In the present study, data were collected from 3,801 adults who were asked to report on parental separation, divorce, or death prior to the age 10, along with parental mental illness during the subject's early childhood. The responses were then examined in the context of recent stressors to see if an interactive effect could be found between any of these earlier events and psychiatric disorders or symptoms in adulthood. Mental disorders and symptoms were measured in the subjects for the six-month period prior to the study using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Evidence was found to support the notion that parental mental illness increases the likelihood that offspring will experience depression during adulthood when they are faced with stressful situations. Whether this was due to genetic or environmental factors (or a combination of both) was not directly studied. Parental separation and divorce correlated with alcohol problems and general psychiatric problems in adulthood in times of stress. Parental death during a subject's childhood did not correlate with psychiatric symptoms during stressful periods in adult life. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Risk factors, Children, Mental illness, Mental disorders, Stress (Psychology), Children of divorced parents, Disabled parents, Children of disabled parents

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Sexual assault and psychiatric disorders among a community sample of women

Article Abstract:

The short-term psychiatric effects of rape and sexual assault have been clearly documented. Less clear are the long-term effects and the risk factors for these effects. The relationships between the characteristics of sexual assault and psychiatric sequelae were evaluated in a survey of 1,157 women of all ages in a general population. Age was significantly related to the prevalence of having experienced sexual assault; more than seven percent of women under age 44 years, but three percent of those between 45 and 64, had been sexually assaulted. The prevalence of sexual assault was higher among urban residents than among rural residents, and among women who had some college than those who had none. Lifetime prevalences of 10 psychiatric disorders were also assessed. Six of the 10 disorders were significantly related to sexual assault, especially alcohol and drug abuse or dependence, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Posttraumatic stress disorder was especially associated with sexual assault that involved physical injury. The results of this survey suggest that a history of sexual assault is a risk factor for a number of psychiatric disorders. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Rape, Rape victims

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Severe episode of depression in late life: the long road to recovery

Article Abstract:

The case of a 77-year-old man who experienced severe depression that would last for long periods of time illustrates the importance of continuity of treatment and the fact that recovery is not fast. Attending psychiatrists could give electroconvulsive therapy to help hasten the recovery phase. Patients will have to be attended to for several months as their reintroduction into the normal social network should be carefully orchestrated.

Research, Usage, Electroconvulsive therapy, Electroshock, Depression in old age, Geriatric depression

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