Childhood maltreatment and personality disorders in patients with a major depressive disorder: A comparative study between France and Togo

Physically Violent Parental Practices: A Cross-Cultural Study in Cameroon, Switzerland, and Togo

Violence against children and adolescents is a widespread problem. However, most studies conducted in this field has been carried out in Western countries and studies are needed in non-Western countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where rates of child physical violence are high. The present study aimed firstly to document the different forms of physical violence and attitudes toward corporal punishment (CP) across Cameroon, Switzerland, and Togo. The second objective aimed, on the one hand, to understand the influence of cultural context, childhood physical abuse, and parental attitudes on physically violent parental practices in these three different cultural contexts. On the other, this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of childhood physical abuse and parental attitudes on the effect of cultural contexts on parental practices. Five hundred and forty-seven parents from Togo, Cameroon, and Switzerland filled out questionnaires concerning violent parental practices (ICAST-P), childhood physical abuse (CTQ-SF), and parental attitudes in favor of CP. Firstly, results highlighted some cultural differences regarding parental attitudes and practices. Secondly, the hierarchical regression showed that physical violence could be partially predicted by the cultural context, childhood abuse, and attitudes in favor of CP. Finally, childhood abuse and parental attitudes mediated the link between the cultural context and parental practices. This study underscores the importance of considering the cultural context when examining parental practices. Moreover, these results provide a better understanding of these types of parental practices in less studied contexts.

Inadequate Coping Strategies of Men who Have Committed Sexual Aggression Against Women: A Study of Their Developmental Antecedents

Several researchers have found that men who have committed sexual aggression have inadequate coping strategies (e.g., paraphilic sexual fantasies, substance abuse). However, very few researchers have empirically examined the factors potentially associated with the development of these strategies. In 2011, Maniglio hypothesized that the inadequate coping strategies of men who have committed sexual aggression are the result of childhood victimization, mediated by internalized psychological problems. The present study therefore empirically tested this hypothesis in a Canadian sample of 205 men who had committed sexual aggression against women, of whom 37 committed sexual murder. Structural equation modeling (SEM) resulted in the identification of several direct and indirect trajectories leading from childhood victimization (psychological, physical, sexual) to the development of inadequate coping strategies (paraphilic sexual fantasies, alcohol and drug use) mediated by internalized psychological problems (e.g., anxiety, depression, social isolation). The theoretical and clinical implications of these developmental trajectories are discussed.

The association between adverse childhood events and cluster C personality disorders: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Studies suggest that adverse childhood events (ACEs) may contribute to the onset and development of cluster C personality disorders. However, the association between ACEs and these disorders remains unclear in terms of consistency across studies and effect magnitude, as well as generalizability within cluster C. The current meta-analysis aimed to examine the associations between ACEs and cluster C personality disorders based on the available literature.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and PsychInfo. Forty-eight eligible studies were included in the analyses, and pooled effect sizes were estimated both at the level of cluster C and at the level of each specific disorder. Moderation and meta-regression analyses were also conducted.

RESULTS

ACEs were consistently associated with overall cluster C, as well as each of the specific disorders in this cluster. Sources of heterogeneity included type of instrument used to assess ACEs (questionnaires > interviews) and type of instrument used to assess the personality disorders (clinical interviews > questionnaires, as well as their combination with interview). The associations between ACEs and all cluster C personality disorders decreased with age.

CONCLUSIONS

ACEs are consistently associated with all cluster C personality disorders. Future work could approach the mechanisms underlying this association, preferably using longitudinal designs and considering the potential sources of effect variability identified in the present study.

Childhood emotional abuse and motor impulsiveness among male violent inmates with antisocial personality disorder

This study aimed to explore the relationship among childhood maltreatment, impulsiveness and antisocial personality through a questionnaire survey of violent male inmates. We found that the scores of inmates with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) in Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-28 item Short Form (CTQ-SF) and Barratt Impulsive Scale-11 (BIS-11) were higher than those in the Non-Antisocial personality group, and there was a significant correlation between the scores of CTQ-SF and BIS-11. We found that the interaction between impulsivity and childhood abuse predicts ASPD levels. Moreover, motor and non-planning impulsiveness played important roles in the observed differences in antisocial personality scores among the inmates who had experienced childhood maltreatment; motor impulsiveness was mainly related to emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, while non-planning impulsiveness was mainly related to emotional neglect and physical neglect. These findings suggest that identifying and providing timely intervention for inmates with high impulsiveness who experienced maltreatment in childhood may also contribute to the prevention of violent behavior and to better prison management.

Association between different types of childhood trauma and parental bonding with antisocial traits in adulthood: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

ASPD describes individuals with a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood. The relationship between parental bonding, trauma, and ASPD is well established, however, it remains unclear what types of trauma or which patterns of bonding are more associated with ASPD.

OBJECTIVES

Review the literature regarding what types of trauma and bonding characteristics were related to antisocial personality traits.

METHOD

Systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scielo for studies about the relationship between antisocial personality traits and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and/or the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI).

RESULTS

357 abstracts were selected, and 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Regarding CTQ, the most consistent finding was the association between physical abuse and neglect to antisocial traits. Sexual abuse was the variable least related to antisocial traits. Regarding PBI, the most consistent finding was the inverse relationship between maternal and paternal care and antisocial traits. Concerning overprotection, the data is less consistent. Also, there was a considerable heterogenity between studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature little explores how these variables interact with each other. Thus, more studies are important to aidpolitical,educational, and public health programs to create preventive initiatives for ASPD.

Childhood malnutrition and maltreatment are linked with personality disorder symptoms in adulthood: Results from a Barbados lifespan cohort

Both childhood malnutrition and maltreatment are associated with mental health problems that can persist into adulthood. Previously we reported that in Barbados, those with a history of infant malnutrition were more likely to report having experienced childhood maltreatment. Few studies, however, address the long-term outcomes of those who have been exposed to both. We assessed the unique and combined associations of a history of early malnutrition and childhood maltreatment with personality pathology in mid-adulthood in participants of the 47-year longitudinal Barbados Nutrition Study. We used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis II Personality Disorders Personality Questionnaire (SCID-II-PQ) and NEO Personality Inventory-Revised derived Five-Factor Model (NEO PI-R FFM) personality disorder (PD) scores to assess personality pathology, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) to assess childhood maltreatment, and clinical documentation of malnutrition in infancy. We tested the associations of malnutrition and maltreatment with PD scores using linear regression models, unadjusted and adjusted for other childhood adversities. We found increased scores for paranoid, schizoid, avoidant, and dependent PDs among those who had been malnourished and increased scores for paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, and avoidant PDs among those with higher childhood maltreatment scores. Overall, those exposed to both adversities had even greater PD scores.

Posttraumatic Stress, Somatization, and Quality of Life Among Ivorian Refugees

The present study examined the relationship between peritraumatic reactions, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, somatization, and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of refugees, two years after the 2011 Ivory Coast sociopolitical crisis. Participants were 101 Ivorian adult refugees (mean age = 31.61 years, SD = 7.84; 45.5% women) who completed several questionnaires relating to peritraumatic reactions, PTSD symptoms, somatization, and QoL. Most participants (86.1%) scored above the cutoff for probable PTSD. Peritraumatic dissociation and peritraumatic distress were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms, (r = .64, p < .001) and (r = .60, p < .001), respectively, and somatization, (r = .21, p = .038) and (r = .35, p < .001), respectively, as well as with QoL, (r = -.20, p = .045) and (r = -.21, p = .037), respectively. Similarly, QoL was significantly negatively correlated with PTSD symptoms (r = -.33, p < .001) and somatization (r = -.39, p < .001). In multivariate analyses, somatization was the strongest predictor of QoL (β = -.31, p = .003). Finally, somatization statistically mediated the association between peritraumatic distress and QoL. These findings suggest that PTSD may be frequent among Ivorian refugees, and that somatization may be an important feature of the traumatic experiences. Targeting somatization in conjunction with trauma-centered therapy may improve outcomes in sub-Saharan Africans with PTSD.

Possible association between SIRT1 single nucleotide polymorphisms and predisposition to antisocial personality traits in Chinese adolescents

Accumulating evidence suggests an association between the SIRT1 gene and human psychiatric disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between SIRT1 and predisposition to antisocial personality traits (ASP) in Chinese adolescents. Participants consisted of 327 controls and 261 juvenile offenders who were diagnosed with predisposition to ASP according to the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire. Four tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) of SIRT1, namely rs12778366, rs7896005, rs10823112, and rs4746720, were genotyped. Association analysis between individual SNPs and ASP risk revealed the CC genotype of rs4746720 to be significantly associated with reduced risk of ASP (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.33-0.77, adjusted P = 0.007). Haplotype analysis showed the TAAC haplotype was associated with reduced susceptibility to ASP (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.57-0.91, P = 0.005). Moreover, rs4746720 variants were found to not only have a direct impact on ASP susceptibility but also modulate the effect of alcohol consumption (Y = 0.022X + 0.431 vs. Y = -0.066X + 0.387). The present study is the first to report a significant association between SIRT1 polymorphisms and ASP in adolescents. This finding is expected to aid in the development of effective interventions for this socially and personally costly disorder.