Childhood trauma in children at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: A longitudinal study. The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study - VIA 7 and VIA 11.

OBJECTIVES: Childhood trauma increases the risk of developing mental illness as does being born to parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. We aimed to compare prevalence of lifetime childhood trauma among 11-year-old children at familial high risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ) or bipolar disorder (FHR-BP) compared with population-based controls (PBCs). DESIGN: The study is a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of children at FHR-SZ, FHR-BP, and PBCs. METHODS: A cohort of 512 children at FHR-SZ (N = 199), FHR-BP (N = 118), and PBCs (N = 195) were examined at baseline (mean age 7.8, SD 0.2) and 451 children at FHR-SZ (N = 172), FHR-BP (N = 104), and PBCs (N = 175) were examined at four-year follow-up (mean age 11.9, SD 0.2, retention rate 87.3%). Childhood trauma was measured with a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: Children at FHR-BP had an elevated risk of exposure to any lifetime trauma (age 0-11 years) compared with PBCs (OR 2.082, 95%CI 1.223-3.545, p = .007) measured with binary logistic regression. One-way ANOVA revealed that both FHR-groups had a higher lifetime prevalence of exposure to a greater number of types of trauma compared with PBCs (FHR-SZ: observed mean: 1.53, 95%CI 1.29-1.77; FHR-BP: observed mean: 1.56, 95%CI 1.26-1.85; PBCs: observed mean: 0.99, 95%CI 0.82-1.17; p < .001). Binary logistic regression showed that the lifetime risk of exposure to interpersonal trauma (age 0-11 years) was elevated for both FHR-groups (FHR-SZ: OR 3.773, 95%CI 2.122-6.710, p < .001; FHR-BP: OR 3.602, 95%CI 1.913-6.783, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP are at increased risk for being exposed to childhood trauma compared with PBCs. This study underscores the need for early detection, support, and prevention of childhood trauma in children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP.

Suicidal Ideation and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Following Early Childhood Psychotic Experiences in Preadolescent Children at Familial High Risk of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder-The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study, VIA 11.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Suicide is a leading cause of death in youth and is often preceded by suicidal ideation (SI) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Identifying early markers of risk for SI and NSSI could improve timely identification of at-risk individuals. STUDY DESIGN: Children (mean age 11.9, SD 0.2) at familial high risk of schizophrenia (N = 171), or bipolar disorder (N = 104), and controls (N = 174) were assessed for psychotic experiences (PE), SI, NSSI, and Axis I mental disorders in face-to-face interviews in early and middle childhood (age 7 and 11). STUDY RESULTS: Having 2 types of early childhood PE predicted middle childhood SI after accounting for previous SI, NSSI, and mental disorders (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-6.9; P = .03). Two PE predicted NSSI (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.7; P = .02) in excess of previous SI, NSSI, mental disorders, and familial risk. Persistent and incident PE predicted SI (OR 3.2, 95% CI, 1.1-8.8; P = .03; OR 3.8, 95% CI, 1.3-11.5; P = .02) in the fully adjusted model. Nineteen percent of children with persistent PE reported middle childhood SI vs 3.8% of those who never reported PE. In children with early childhood mental disorders, those who reported 2 PE had 4.4-fold increased odds of later SI (95% CI, 1.2-16.7; P = .03) after adjustments. PE were nondifferentially associated with outcomes across familial risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early childhood PE index elevated risk for subsequent SI and NSSI beyond what can be attributed to presence of mental disorders. Mental health screenings and clinical assessments should include early childhood PE.