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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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Open Access 04-01-2022 | Original Paper

Does childhood trauma predict schizotypal traits? A path modelling approach in a cohort of help-seeking subjects

Authors: Julian Max Bernhard Dizinger, Carolin Martha Doll, Marlene Rosen, Michael Gruen, Lukas Daum, Frauke Schultze-Lutter, Linda Betz, Joseph Kambeitz, Kai Vogeley, Theresa Katharina Haidl

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 5/2022

Abstract

Schizotypy constitutes a susceptibility to beneficial and deleterious schizotypal traits, ranging from coping mechanisms to schizotypal personality disorder on a psychosis continuum. Growing evidence indicates a relationship between childhood adversity and trauma and schizotypy. However, the exact influence of childhood adversity and trauma on schizotypy and its relation to sex is not sufficiently understood. Therefore, we investigated sex-adjusted connections between childhood adversity and trauma subdomains (emotional/physical/sexual abuse, emotional/physical neglect) and positive (magical ideation, perceptual aberration) as well as negative schizotypy (physical/social anhedonia). In total, 240 outpatients of the Early Detection and Intervention Centre of the University Hospital Cologne were assessed with the Trauma and Distress Scale for childhood adversity and trauma and the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales for schizotypy. Path analyses were performed to investigate sex-adjusted correlations. The well-fitting path model of the total sample linked emotional abuse to magical ideation (p = 0.03; SE = 0.20) and emotional neglect to social anhedonia (p = 0.01; SE = 0.26). In females, physical abuse predicted magical ideation (p = 0.01; SE = 0.33), while emotional neglect forecasted physical anhedonia (p = 0.03; SE = 0.34) and social anhedonia (p = 0.03; SE = 0.32). In males, sexual abuse predicted perceptive aberration (p = 0.04; SE = 0.19) and emotional abuse forecasted magical ideation (p = 0.03; SE = 0.27). Overall, the significance of sex-specific interrelations between trauma and schizotypy were highlighted. Magical ideation and perceptive aberration occurred prominently in the absence of negative and disorganized schizotypy, thus positive schizotypy could be discussed as a beneficial expression of coping with emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Furthermore, emotional neglect should be addressed particularly to prevent deleterious negative schizotypy in females.

Trial registration number (20-1243), date of registration (May 19th 2020), retrospectively registered.

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Title: Does childhood trauma predict schizotypal traits? A path modelling approach in a cohort of help-seeking subjects
Authors: Julian Max Bernhard Dizinger
Carolin Martha Doll
Marlene Rosen
Michael Gruen
Lukas Daum
Frauke Schultze-Lutter
Linda Betz
Joseph Kambeitz
Kai Vogeley
Theresa Katharina Haidl
Publication date: 04-01-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 5/2022
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-021-01373-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Does childhood trauma predict schizotypal traits? A path modelling approach in a cohort of help-seeking subjects

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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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