Childhood-maltreatment subtypes in bipolar patients with suicidal behavior: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: Patients with bipolar disorders have a high risk of suicidal behavior. Childhood maltreatment is a well-established risk factor for suicidal behavior. The objective of this study was to examine the association between childhood-maltreatment subtypes and vulnerability to suicide attempts in bipolar disorder using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Methods: A literature review was performed using the MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases. Thirteen studies met the selection criteria. In the meta-analysis, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess a wide range of childhood maltreatment subtypes, which were analyzed by using a random-effects model to account for the likely variations of true effect sizes between the included studies. Results: In the systematic review, 13 studies met the selection criteria. The CTQ was selected for the meta-analysis to increase the homogeneity of assessment and to encompass a wide range of childhood-maltreatment subtypes. The data were analyzed using a random-effects model. Compared to bipolar non-attempters, bipolar suicide attempters had experienced childhood maltreatment with a significantly higher frequency and had higher total CTQ scores (Hedges’ g =-0.38, 95%CI-0.52 to-0.24, z =-5.27, p o 0.001) and CTQ sub-scores (sexual abuse: g =-0.39, 95%CI-0.52 to-0.26, z =-5.97; physical abuse: g =-0.26, 95%CI-0.39 to-0.13, z =-4.00; emotional abuse: g =-0.39, 95%CI-0.65 to-0.13, z =-2.97; physical neglect: g =-0.18, 95%CI-0.31 to-0.05, z =-2.79; emotional neglect: g =-0.27, 95%CI-0.43 to-0.11, z =-3.32). Conclusions: Childhood maltreatment, as assessed by the CTQ, may contribute to an increased risk of suicidal behavior among people with bipolar disorders. Recognizing maltreatment as an etiological risk factor is a crucial step toward furthering science-based preventive psychiatry.