A new University of Manchester meta-analysis of more than 30 years of bipolar research may have uncovered a link between childhood trauma and bipolar disorder. The researchers found that people with the disorder are 2.63 times more likely than the general population to have suffered from some form of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse as children. The study was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry and identifies 19 studies in total from hundreds published between 1980 and 2014.
The Data
The researchers took the relevant data, including millions of patient records, interviews, and assessments, and compared the likelihood of those with and without bipolar disorder of having experienced childhood trauma. The meta-analysis revealed a strong link between child abuse and the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by patients varying between extreme depressive and manic states, which impair quality of life and can increase the risk of suicide. While bipolar disorder has been recognized for several decades, more research is necessary to improve detection at younger ages and ameliorate treatment.
Dr. Filippo Varese, one of the study’s authors, said: "Much research into bipolar has focused on bio-genetics, but following previous work on schizophrenia, we felt that a similar effect could be found in bipolar. The link between experiencing a troubled childhood and subsequently being diagnosed with this serious condition is extremely strong."
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| Bipolar disorder affects a sizeable percentage of the U.S. population. Source: nih.gov |
What is Childhood Adversity?
In this study, the authors defined childhood adversity as the child experiencing neglect, abuse, or bullying, or parental loss before they were 19. Emotional abuse in childhood was particularly linked to bipolar disorder diagnosis later in life, while parental loss did not alter the risk factor significantly.
It’s important to note that the study does not imply that undergoing childhood trauma means certain development of bipolar disorder; it merely suggests that one will have a higher risk. The findings from this research have implications for psychiatrists providing treatment, as knowing a patient’s childhood experiences could help develop more personalized treatment plans.
What Do We Gain from the Study?
Dr. Jasper Palmier-Claus, the study’s lead author, noted: "Handled sensitively, enquiries about a person's childhood experiences can make a significant difference to how treatment proceeds and the types of support that can be put into place."
Meta-analyses like this one, the first of its kind about bipolar disorder and childhood trauma, can be useful in determining new avenues for treatment. They provide a larger pool of data for analysis and subsequently allow scientists to draw more nuanced conclusions.
