Investigation of the effect of childhood traumatic experiences on clinical characteristics, functionality and protective treatment in patients with bipolar disorder'

SUMMARY Introduction and Objective: Childhood traumas (CTs) are defined as "behaviors which are knowingly or unknowingly executed by an adult and affect the health and physical development of a child". CTs are more frequently seen in psychiatric patients compared to general population. Increase in the prevalance of psychiatric disorders and worsening of the clinical features of psychiatric patients are found in the presence of CTs. Studies investigating the effect of the presence of CTs among the patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have shown significant, long-lasting effects on the symptoms. This research is expected to provide new data for the improvement of functionality in the BD patiens with traumatic experience. Method: In this study, 52 patients with a diagnoses of BD who were followed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital Psychiatry out-patient unit were included. Sociodemographic data form, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire (BDFQ), Protective Treatment Response Scale (PTRS) and Chilhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered to the included patients. Obtained data was evaluated using SPSS for Windows 22.0 software programme. Findings: The presence of CT was detected in 25 patients. When the sub-dimensions of CTQ were examined it was found that; 14 patients had emotional neglect, 26 patients had emotional abuse, 19 patients had pyhsical neglect, 22 patients had pyhsicalabuse and 11 patients had sexual abuse in their past. It was found that the time without treatment from the onset of the disease was significantly prolonged in the presence of CTs. We found that there was negative relationship between CTQ total score and functionality and treatment response. When the relationship between functionality and CTQ sub-dimensions was examined; negative relationship was found between functionality and physical abuse and emotional neglect. When the relationship between protective treatment response and CTQ sub-dimensions was examine; negative relationship between protective treatment response and physical abuse, physical neglect and sexual abuse. A positive relationship between functionality and protective treatment response was also determined. vii Result: Presence of CTs causes prolongation of the time without treatment, impairment in functionality and decrese in treatment response among patients diagnosed with BD. Questioning of history of CTs and regulation of the appropriate treatment during the evaluation of patients with BD may promote improvement of the functionality of the patients and increase in the treament response Keywords: Bipolar disorder, chilhood trauma, functionality, protective treatment response