An assessment of childhood trauma in a group of state patients admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital
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Date
2021
Authors
Eklektos, Nikki
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Each year millions of children are exposed to adverse experiences (including neglect and abuse). There is evidence that early events impact on lifelong behavioural, biological, emotional and social wellbeing; and childhood maltreatment has been shown to be a major cause of psychiatric morbidity. There are also links between childhood maltreatment and criminal behaviour. AIMS: To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of a sample of State patients admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital, and to identify a history of childhood trauma in this group. OBJECTIVES: Describe the demographic, diagnostic and criminal charge profiles in a group of State patients admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital; assess the history of childhood trauma within this population; describe the different types of childhood trauma experienced; and to assess whether an association exists between the childhood trauma and psychiatric diagnosis and criminal charge. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 2016 to June 2016. It included all inpatient State patients over the age of 18 years who were able to provide informed consent (sample size 130). An interview was conducted using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire which was used to calculate an ACE score and data was collected from their clinical files. RESULTS: The most frequent adverse childhood experience was household dysfunction and the least frequent was sexual abuse. The most common diagnosis was schizophrenia. The most common criminal charge was assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. There was neither a significant association between the psychiatric diagnosis and the ACE score, nor between the criminal charge and the ACE score. CONCLUSIONS: Much of the available literature supports the hypothesis that childhood maltreatment is associated with the development of psychiatric disorders and criminal behaviour. This study did not find evidence of such links in this population, but this outcome may be related to the small sample size rather than a true lack of associations
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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Psychiatry, 2021