Impact of Childhood Trauma and Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder on Quality of Life in Individuals with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Childhood trauma and anxiety disorders are common in individuals with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of childhood trauma and adult separation anxiety disorder on the quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 111 individuals with schizophrenia and 85 control subjects. The separation anxiety symptom inventory (SASI), adult separation anxiety questionnaire (ASAQ), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), and World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF) were administered to the participants. Results: More individuals with schizophrenia than control subjects were unemployed and single (p<0.05). Individuals with schizophrenia scored significantly higher on the SASI, ASAQ, and CTQ (p<0.05), whereas the control subjects scored significantly higher on the WHOQoL-BREF (p<0.05). ASAQ scores had mild positive correlations with total PANSS and PANSS subscale scores, and moderate positive correlations with total CTQ, CTQ emotional subscale scores, and CTQ physical abuse subscale scores. A negative moderate correlation was found between ASAQ and total WHOQoL-BREF scores. Mediation analysis revealed that CTQ scores significantly affected total WHOQoL-BREF and ASAQ scores. The model pathway for ASAQ scores showed a significant direct and indirect effect of CTQ on the total WHOQoL-BREF scores. Conclusion: Childhood trauma predicts adult separation anxiety disorder, which partially mediates the impact of childhood trauma on quality of life in individuals with schizophrenia. Therapeutic interventions for adult separation anxiety disorder in individuals with schizophrenia and a history of childhood trauma may help increase their quality of life.

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES) in the Setting of Trauma and Schizophrenia

“…A study of 111 patients with schizophrenia and 85 control subjects determined that those with schizophrenia and childhood trauma had increased incidence of adult separation anxiety disorder [ 20 ]. Furthermore, the study found that schizophrenia in the setting of past childhood trauma is associated with increased disease burden [ 20 ]. This association itself may provide a key link between PNES, schizophrenia, and childhood trauma.…”

Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları ile Romantik İlişkide İstismara Maruziyet Arasındaki İlişkide Borderline Kişilik Özellikleri ve Ayrılık Anksiyetesinin Aracı Rolü

“…Traumatic stress experiences cause high levels of anxiety in children, and studies reveal the relationship between childhood traumas and different types of anxiety disorders (Nemeroff, 2016). Separation anxiety seen in adults is among the anxiety types highly correlated with childhood traumas (Karaytuğ et al, 2023).…”

“…It also manifests itself with relationship difficulties and inconsistencies caused by fluctuations in self and affect (Faraji, 2021). Childhood traumas and borderline personality traits have a strong association with adulthood separation anxiety (Bassi et al, 2021;Karaytuğ et al, 2023, Namlı et al, 2022. When the child cannot establish a secure bond in his first relationships, he expects to be abandoned in his future relationships, and this expectation reveals the emotional and cognitive processes underlying the formation of anxiety (Astuti et al, 2020).…”