The association between child maltreatment and mental disorders in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the associations between experiences of child maltreatment and mental disorders in the Australian population.Design: Population-representative survey conducted by computerassisted telephone interviewing.Setting, participants: Australian residents aged 16 years and older.Main outcome measures: Mental disorder diagnoses of lifetime major depressive disorder, current alcohol use disorder (mild, moderate and severe), current generalised anxiety disorder and current post-traumatic stress disorder.

The prevalence and nature of multi‐type child maltreatment in Australia

“…This knowledge is essential to develop evidence‐informed child protection policies, prevention strategies and interventions. Analysis of multi‐type maltreatment also enables assessment of its associations with mental health disorders, health risk behaviour and service use data, which are reported elsewhere in this supplement 26‐28 . Forthcoming analyses will examine differences in associated outcomes attributable to variability in age of onset, developmental periods of victimisation, chronicity, and particular multi‐type maltreatment combinations.…”

Child maltreatment and health service use: findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

“…Mental disorders and substance use during adolescence can also influence the impact of maltreatment history on health service use in adulthood. The ACMS found associations between child maltreatment and mental disorders that emerged during early adulthood 17 . A prospective cohort study in the United States, with data collected at four time points, similarly found that the relationship between child maltreatment and increased health service use was partly explained by the increased risk of developing mental disorders; maltreated people with major depression or who used drugs during young adulthood (approximate age at follow‐up, 29 years) were significantly more likely to use general medical services in middle adulthood (approximate age at follow‐up, 41 years) 9 …”

Childhood adversity in a youth psychiatric population: prevalence and associated mental health problems

“…The high prevalence of ACEs is a major public health concern that negatively affects development and increases the risk of mental health conditions and chronic diseases in later life (Gardner et al, 2019 ; Hughes et al, 2017 ; Scott et al, 2023 ). A systematic review by Petruccelli et al ( 2019 ), which included 96 articles on health outcomes associated with ACEs, showed that ACEs were associated with significantly poorer medical health outcomes, such as respiratory disease, ischemic heart disease, sleep problems, gastrointestinal disease, and somatic pain.…”