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Adverse childhood experiences and adult mood problems: evidence from a five-decade prospective birth cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 October 2019

Camilla Selous ,
Michelle Kelly-Irving ,
Barbara Maughan ,
Olga Eyre ,
Frances Rice  and
Stephan Collishaw Open the ORCID record for Stephan Collishaw [Opens in a new window]
Camilla Selous
Affiliation:
Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
Michelle Kelly-Irving
Affiliation:
French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Unit of Epidemiology and Public Health Analysis, UMR1027, Toulouse, France
Barbara Maughan
Affiliation:
King's College London, MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
Olga Eyre
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK
Frances Rice
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK
Stephan Collishaw*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Stephan Collishaw, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Retrospectively recalled adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with adult mood problems, but evidence from prospective population cohorts is limited. The aims of this study were to test links between prospectively ascertained ACEs and adult mood problems up to age 50, to examine the role of child mental health in accounting for observed associations, and to test gender differences in associations.

Methods

The National Child Development Study is a UK population cohort of children born in 1958. ACEs were defined using parent or teacher reports of family adversity (parental separation, child taken into care, parental neglect, family mental health service use, alcoholism and criminality) at ages 7–16. Children with no known (n = 9168), single (n = 2488) and multiple (n = 897) ACEs were identified in childhood. Adult mood problems were assessed using the Malaise inventory at ages 23, 33, 42 and 50 years. Associations were examined separately for males and females.

Results

Experiencing single or multiple ACEs was associated with increased rates of adult mood problems after adjustment for childhood psychopathology and confounders at birth [2+ v. 0 ACEs – men: age 23: odds ratio (OR) 2.36 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–3.3); age 33: OR 2.40 (1.7–3.4); age 42: OR 1.85 (1.4–2.4); age 50: OR 2.63 (2.0–3.5); women: age 23: OR 2.00 (95% CI 1.5–2.6); age 33: OR 1.81 (1.3–2.5); age 42: OR 1.59 (1.2–2.1); age 50: OR 1.32 (1.0–1.7)].

Conclusions

Children exposed to ACEs are at elevated risk for adult mood problems and a priority for early prevention irrespective of the presence of psychopathology in childhood.

Keywords

ACEbirth cohortdepressionprospective
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 50 , Issue 14 , October 2020 , pp. 2444 - 2451
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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