Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2022.41

ASSOCIATION OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS WITH THE DURATION OF UNTREATED PSYCHOSIS

Vanja Lovretić ; Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia ; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Ana Kurtović ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croat
Ena Ivezić ; Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Daniela Šago ; Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia ; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Sanja Jandrić ; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek, Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Osijek, Croatia
Igor Filipčić ; Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Cro
Branka Restek-Petrović ; Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Background: Understanding causes and consequences of untreated psychosis is important since the duration of psychosis prior
to the treatment initiation is a potentially modifiable prognostic factor, and comprehending its impact on outcome may enhance
therapeutic strategies.
Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on a consecutive sample of 105 participants, 47 first episode
participants and 58 with multiple episodes. Primary outcome was the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). We observed three
independent variables: childhood trauma measured by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, psychotic symptoms measured by Positive
and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and personality dimensions measured by the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO)
(primitive defences, identity diffusion and reality testing). All outcomes were observed among total sample and subgroups of first and
multiple episode participants.
Results: Median DUP in total sample was 60.0 (IQR 14.5-285) days. In the subgroup of multiple episode participants, an
association between multiple childhood trauma and shorter DUP was found, while no association between DUP and the existence of
any specific trauma was found in neither subgroup, or in total sample. With regards to personality dimensions, in the first episode
subgroup, significant positive correlations between DUP and primitive defences and reality testing subscales were found, while no
correlations in total sample, nor in multiple episode subgroup were observed. Positive symptoms and general psychopathology
correlated positively with DUP in total sample, and in first episode subgroup, while in multiple episodes subgroup only a positive
correlation with positive symptoms was found. Total PANSS score positively correlated with the DUP only in the first episode
subgroup.
Conclusions: DUP was not associated with specific type of childhood trauma. First episode participants with longer DUP had
predominant primitive defences and severely decreased ability to test reality, while there were no correlations between personality
dimensions and DUP in multiple episode subgroup.

Keywords

duration of untreated psychosis; childhood trauma; personality dimensions; psychopathology; early-course psychosis

Hrčak ID:

275937

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/275937

Publication date:

3.5.2022.

Visits: 488 *