Childhood trauma is associated with age at onset of symptoms, functioning, and cognition in patients with schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION: Childhood trauma (CT) is known to be a vulnerability factor for schizophrenia, but the specific impacts of different trauma subtypes on the prognosis of these patients remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationships between the occurrence of overall CT and its subtypes with factors with known prognostic impact on schizophrenia, such as age at onset of symptoms, global functioning, and cognitive impairment in a sample of Brazilian patients. METHODS: One hundred and five stable patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria were evaluated using the Independent Living Skills Survey (ILSS; self-report global functioning), Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS; subjective cognitive impairment), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire scales (CTQ; perceived overall CT, emotional neglect, physical neglect, physical abuse, and emotional and sexual abuse). Statistical analysis was performed with multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: After controlling for educational level and age, subjective cognitive impairment was directly correlated with overall perceived CT occurrence, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Self-report global functioning was inversely correlated with perceived overall CT occurrence, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Emotional abuse and physical abuse were also inversely correlated with age at onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: CT can be related to more severe prognoses in schizophrenia, impacting on early onset of symptoms, lower global functioning, and greater cognitive impairment. Subtypes of trauma can be associated with different prognostic risks.