Mania symptoms in a Swedish longitudinal population study: the roles of childhood trauma and neurodevelopmental disorder

Gajwani, R. , Dinkler, L., Lundström, S., Lichtenstein, P., Gillberg, C. and Minnis, H. (2021) Mania symptoms in a Swedish longitudinal population study: the roles of childhood trauma and neurodevelopmental disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 280(Part A), pp. 450-456. (doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.076)

Abstract

Background: Adult psychiatric disorders are associated with both childhood traumatic experiences (CTEs) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). CTEs and NDDs frequently co-occur in childhood, but their combined risk effect on the emergence of juvenile mania symptoms has not yet been examined. Methods: In a population-representative Swedish twin study, CTEs and NDDs were assessed in 3,348 nine-year old twins born between 1998 and 2001, and treated as dichotomous predictors (any CTEs, any NDDs). Follow-up data were gathered at age 15 through parental reports of mania symptoms, yielding a symptom count score. Results: Both CTEs and NDDs at age 9 contributed uniquely to an increase in mania symptoms at age 15. Children with both risk factors had 1.6 times the rate of mania symptoms as children with CTEs-only (Incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.63, 95% CI 1.37-1.93), and 1.3 times the rate of mania symptoms as children with NDDs-only (IRR: 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.50). There was no evidence for an interactive effect. NDDs showed a trend towards having a larger effect on mania symptoms than CTEs (IRR: 1.29, 95% CI 0.99-1.68). Limitations: Although it is a strength of the study that the data on exposures and outcome were collected prospectively, parental recall of CTEs was required and CTEs may be under-reported. Conclusions: NDDs are at least as important as CTEs in the development of mania symptoms, and their risk is additive. Those with a history of both CTEs and NDDs should be monitored closely for the development of more severe psychiatric presentations.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gillberg, Professor Christopher and Gajwani, Dr Ruchika and Minnis, Professor Helen
• Authors: Gajwani, R., Dinkler, L., Lundström, S., Lichtenstein, P., Gillberg, C., and Minnis, H.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Journal of Affective Disorders
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0165-0327
• ISSN (Online): 1573-2517
• Published Online: 06 November 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Affective Disorders 280(Part A): 450-456
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy