Memories of childhood abuse have greater impact on mental health than experiences: Study

According to new research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London and City University New York, the way childhood abuse and/or neglect is remembered and processed, compared to the experience itself The latter has a greater impact on mental health. York, published today (Wednesday 5 July) in JAMA Psychiatry. Even in the absence of documentary evidence, the authors argue that clinicians can use patients’ self-reported experiences of abuse and neglect to identify those at risk of developing mental health problems and provide early intervention.

Researchers conducted a large longitudinal study on 1,196 participants up to age 40 to examine how experiences of childhood abuse and/or neglect (abuse) affect the development of emotional disorders in adulthood. The study found that young adults who retrospectively reported experiences of childhood abuse before the age of 12 had a higher incidence of depression or anxiety over the next decade than those who did not. had no recollection of the abuse that occurred, even though they had official court records.

In contrast, participants who had an official record of childhood abuse but no retrospective memory of the experience had the same number of episodes of emotional disorder in adulthood as those who had no experience of abuse. Was.

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Andrea Dannies, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at King’s IoPPN and co-author of the study, said: “Our study shows that how a person perceives and remembers experiences of childhood abuse or neglect, compared to the experience itself have a greater impact on future emotional disorders. The findings suggest that, even in the absence of documentary evidence of childhood abuse, therapists can use information provided by their clients to identify those at greater risk for later mental health difficulties. The findings also suggest that early interventions that help deal with memories of abuse and/or neglect may prevent later emotional problems.”

Participants were interviewed about their self-reported retrospective experiences of childhood abuse and their current and past mental health. They were then interviewed again to measure symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Further analyzes revealed that the association between self-reported experiences of childhood abuse and a greater number of subsequent episodes of anxiety and depression was partially explained by the participants’ current and past mental health, which was related to their prior Was told during the interview.

The authors suggest that this may be because emotional disorders can negatively bias memories, making participants more likely to recall negative events.

Professor Dennies said: “A better understanding of how memories of child abuse persist and grow over time, and how memories affect daily functioning, could provide new insights for developing effective interventions.”

The work is part of the King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, a collaboration between specialist clinicians from South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and leading academics from King’s College London to find new ways to predict, prevent and treat mental health disorders A unique collaboration. in children and youth.

The partnership will be based on the new Pierce Maudsley Center that will house Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) inpatient and outpatient services and clinical research facilities, which is scheduled to open in 2024.