Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2016 Aug;23(3):116-121. 10.0000/kjbp.2016.23.3.116.

A Preliminary Study of Childhood Trauma and Patterns of Psychotropic Medication Use in Patients with Schizophrenia

• Kim C
• Kim D
• Lee H
• Kim Y

• KMID: 2351427
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjbp.2016.23.3.116

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Experience of early childhood abuse elevates the risk of developing schizophrenia in later period of life, incidence of psychiatric comorbidity, symptomatic severity and complexity. In this context, we hypothesized that the pattern of psychotropic medication used would reflect this; those with childhood trauma will received more types and higher doses of psychotropic medication.
METHODS
From our database of 102 outpatients diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) schizophrenia, we analyzed experiences of childhood trauma measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form and types and dose of prescribed psychotropic medication.
RESULTS
We found significant positive correlations between child sexual abuse and the number of psychotropic medications (p = 0.029) and between child emotional neglect and the number of psychotropic medications other than antipsychotics (p = 0.045).
CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study suggests that the pattern of psychotropic use may be affected by types of childhood trauma. Further studies will have to shed light on mediating factors such as symptoms or comorbid conditions that lead to prescription of certain psychotropic class.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Childhood trauma; Psychotropic medication; Child abuse

MeSH Terms

Antipsychotic Agents
Child
Child Abuse
Child Abuse, Sexual
Comorbidity
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Humans
Incidence
Negotiating
Outpatients
Prescriptions
Schizophrenia*
Antipsychotic Agents