BackgroundChildhood trauma (CT) is associated with severe sequelae, including stress‐related mental health disorders that can perpetuate long into adulthood. A key mechanism in this relationship seems to be emotion regulation. We aimed to investigate (1) whether childhood trauma is associated with anger in adulthood, and, if so, (2) to explore which types of childhood trauma predominate in the prediction of anger in a cohort that included participants with and without current affective disorders.MethodsIn the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), childhood trauma was assessed with a semi‐structured Childhood Trauma Interview (CTI) at baseline, and analyzed in relation to anger as measured at a 4‐year follow‐up with the Spielberger Trait Anger Subscale (STAS), the Anger Attacks Questionnaire, and cluster B personality traits (i.e., borderline, antisocial) of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire 4 (PDQ‐4), using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Post hoc analyses comprised cross‐sectional regression analyses, using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire‐Short Form (CTQ‐SF) also obtained at a 4‐year follow‐up.ResultsParticipants (n = 2271) were on average 42.1 years (SD = 13.1), and 66.2% were female. Childhood trauma showed a dose–response association with all anger constructs. All types of childhood trauma were significantly associated with borderline personality traits, independently of depression and anxiety. Additionally, all types of childhood trauma except for sexual abuse were associated with higher levels of trait anger, and a higher prevalence of anger attacks and antisocial personality traits in adulthood. Cross‐sectionally, the effect sizes were larger compared with the analyses with the childhood trauma measured 4 years prior to the anger measures.ConclusionsChildhood trauma is linked with anger in adulthood, which could be of particular interest in the context of psychopathology. Focus on childhood traumatic experiences and adulthood anger may help to enhance the effectiveness of treatment for patients with depressive and anxiety disorders. Trauma‐focused interventions should be implemented when appropriate.

IntroductionChildhood trauma (CT) is associated with severe sequelae, including personality disorders and stress-related mental health disorders that can perpetuate long into adulthood.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate (1) whether childhood trauma is associated with anger in adulthood, and, if so, (2) to explore which types of childhood trauma predominate in the prediction of anger, and (3) to explore whether the association is independent of psychopathology in a cohort that included participants without lifetime psychiatric disorders, with current or remitted depressive and anxiety disorders, or comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders.MethodsIn the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), childhood trauma was assessed with a semi-structured Childhood Trauma Interview (CTI) at baseline, and analyzed in relation to anger as measured at 4-year follow-up with the Spielberger Trait Anger Subscale (STAS), the Anger Attacks Questionnaire, and cluster B personality traits (i.e., borderline, antisocial) of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire 4 (PDQ-4), using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Post-hoc analyses comprised cross-sectional regression analyses, using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form (CTQ-SF) obtained at 4-year follow-up.ResultsParticipants (n = 2,276) were on average 42.1 years (SD = 13.1), and 66.3% were female. Childhood trauma showed a dose-response association with all anger constructs. Zooming in, all types of childhood trauma except for sexual abuse were associated with higher levels of trait anger, and a higher prevalence of anger attacks and antisocial personality traits in adulthood, independently of depression and anxiety. Additionally, all types of childhood trauma were significantly associated with borderline personality traits. Cross-sectionally, the effect sizes were larger compared to the analyses with the childhood trauma measured four years prior to the anger measures.ConclusionsChildhood trauma is linked with anger in adulthood, most strongly for trait anger and borderline personality traits. It is of clinical importance to explore childhood traumatic experience and start trauma-focused interventions when appropriate.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Introduction Childhood trauma is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depressive disorders, but its association with anger, irritability, and related constructs has received less attention. Objectives We aimed to investigate (1) the relationship between childhood trauma and anger constructs in adulthood, and (2) which types of childhood trauma is most predictive. Methods In the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), childhood trauma at baseline was assessed with a semi-structured interview. Childhood trauma was analyzed in relation to the Spielberger Trait Anger Subscale (STAS), the Anger Attacks Questionnaire, and the cluster B personality traits part of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire 4 (PDQ-4), measured at 4-year follow-up, using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariable logistic regression analyses, adjusting for sex, age, level of education, BMI, smoking, alcohol dependency/abuse, disorder status. Results Participants were on average 42.1 years (SD = 13.1), and 66.3% (n = 1.508) were female. Childhood trauma showed a dose-response association with all anger constructs. Zooming in, emotional neglect, and psychological, and physical abuse were associated with all anger constructs, independently of depression or anxiety. Additionally, sexual abuse and childhood life events were associated with trait anger and borderline personality traits, and trait anger and antisocial personality traits retrospectively. Conclusions Childhood trauma is linked with anger in adulthood. Childhood trauma may cause not only anxiety and depression, but also anger, and tailored interventions (at both childhood trauma and anger itself ) might help to improve unsatisfactory relationships and prevent violent behaviors. Disclosure No significant relationships.