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

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the specific types of childhood trauma and their relationship to treatment-related issues in major depressive disorder (MDD). This study examined trauma experiences and treatment-related variables in outpatients with MDD at a psychiatric department of a university hospital in Korea.METHODS: First, 75 outpatients with MDD were compared to medical outpatients without MDD matched by age, sex, income, and educational qualifications. Both groups completed the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised, which assesses comprehensive life events. Second, treatment-related variables and medication compliance measured by the Compliance Rating Scale were investigated for the two-year period after the initial assessment.RESULTS: The MDD group had experienced a significantly higher number of lifetime traumas than the control group (p=0.003), including more frequent witnessing of family violence (p<0.001), adulthood physical assault by a family member (p<0.001), and childhood emotional abuse (CEA) (p<0.001). CEA was associated with early onset of the first depressive episode and premature termination of pharmacotherapy; childhood physical neglect was associated with premature termination and less time in therapy.CONCLUSION: Our findings support the important influence of childhood emotional trauma and its relationship to treatment retention.
Child ; Child Abuse ; Compliance ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Domestic Violence ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Medication Adherence ; Outpatients ; Patient Dropouts