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Wang X, Ni X, Wei Y, Xu L, Tang X, Liu H, Wang Z, Chen T, Wang J, Zhang Q, Zhang T. Sex Differences in Personality Disorder and Childhood Maltreatment of Patients with Schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:989-999. [PMID: 38741581 PMCID: PMC11090116 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s462346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite numerous studies investigating personality disorder (PD) and childhood maltreatment (CM) characteristics in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), there remains a scarcity of research focusing on sex differences in PD and CM within large samples of SZ patients. Methods A total of 592 participants (257 males, 335 females) were consecutively sampled from patients diagnosed with SZ at the psychiatric and psycho-counseling clinics at Shanghai Mental Health Center. PDs were assessed using a self-reported personality diagnostic questionnaire and a structured clinical interview, while CMs were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Child Trauma Questionnaire Short Form. Results Male patients exhibited a prominent self-reported trait of antisocial PD (t=1.972, p=0.049), while female patients demonstrated a notable emphasis on histrionic PD traits (t=-2.057, p=0.040). Structured interviews for PD diagnoses further indicated a higher comorbidity of schizotypal (χ2=4.805, p=0.028) and schizoid (χ2=6.957, p=0.008) PDs among male patients compared to female patients. Additionally, male patients reported a higher degree (t=2.957, p=0.003) and proportion (χ2=5.277, p=0.022) of experiences of physical abuse in their self-reported CM. Logistic regression analyses highlight distinct factors: higher antisocial PD traits and physical abuse are associated with male patients, while histrionic PD traits and emotional abuse are associated with female patients. Discussion These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing sex-specific manifestations of personality pathology and the nuanced impact of CM in the clinical management of individuals with SZ. The study advocates for tailored interventions that consider the distinct needs associated with sex differences in both personality traits and CM experiences among SZ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoLiang Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - XiaoDong Ni
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - YanYan Wei
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - LiHua Xu
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - XiaoChen Tang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - HaiChun Liu
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - ZiXuan Wang
- Department of Psychology, Shanghai Xinlianxin Psychological Counseling Center, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Chen
- Big Data Research Lab, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - JiJun Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - TianHong Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Psychological Evaluation and Intervention, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Nicolaides NC, Kanaka-Gantenbein C, Pervanidou P. Developmental Neuroendocrinology of Early-Life Stress: Impact on Child Development and Behavior. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:461-474. [PMID: 37563814 PMCID: PMC10845081 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230810162344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Our internal balance, or homeostasis, is threatened or perceived as threatened by stressful stimuli, the stressors. The stress system is a highly conserved system that adjusts homeostasis to the resting state. Through the concurrent activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the locus coeruleus/norepinephrine-autonomic nervous systems, the stress system provides the appropriate physical and behavioral responses, collectively termed as "stress response", to restore homeostasis. If the stress response is prolonged, excessive or even inadequate, several acute or chronic stress-related pathologic conditions may develop in childhood, adolescence and adult life. On the other hand, earlylife exposure to stressors has been recognized as a major contributing factor underlying the pathogenesis of non-communicable disorders, including neurodevelopmental disorders. Accumulating evidence suggests that early-life stress has been associated with an increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in the offspring, although findings are still controversial. Nevertheless, at the molecular level, early-life stressors alter the chemical structure of cytosines located in the regulatory regions of genes, mostly through the addition of methyl groups. These epigenetic modifications result in the suppression of gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. In addition to DNA methylation, several lines of evidence support the role of non-coding RNAs in the evolving field of epigenetics. In this review article, we present the anatomical and functional components of the stress system, discuss the proper, in terms of quality and quantity, stress response, and provide an update on the impact of early-life stress on child development and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas C. Nicolaides
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, Athens, 11527, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece
- School of Medicine, University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Visioli C, Tondo L, Miola A, Pinna M, Contu M, Baldessarini RJ. Early sexual or physical abuse in female and male mood disorder patients. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 167:125-131. [PMID: 37866326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Early abuse has been associated with psychiatric morbidity but comparisons of bipolar (BD) and major depressive (MDD) disorder subjects with versus without early sexual or physical abuse are rare. Patients (n = 684) diagnosed with a DSM-5-TR major mood disorder were evaluated and followed for several years at mood disorder centers to compare details of history and clinical status in participants with versus without early sexual or physical abuse. Early history of sexual (16.2%) or physical abuse (11.9%) was prevalent; 5.15% reported both. Both types of abuse were much more prevalent with BD than MDD. Sexual abuse was associated with younger illness-onset and somewhat younger menarche in females; both abuse-types were associated with familial mood disorders, especially BD. Prospective, long-term illness episode-frequency, depressions or [hypo]manias/year and %-time [hypo]manic all were greater following sexual abuse but morbidity measures did not differ following physical abuse. Prevalence of suicidal behavior ranked: double (48.5%) > physical (32.1%) > sexual (30.3%) abuse, and with BD > MDD (OR = 2.31). Recall bias and not using psychometric instruments to define abuse severity or type may limit interpretation of findings. Early sexual (more than physical) abuse, led to greater morbidity and both abuses were strongly associated with familial mood disorders and greater suicidal risk, especially with double-abuse and BD diagnosis. We support a bilateral relationship between abuse and diagnosis of BD: abuse may facilitate early appearance of BD but also may result from the actions of abusive BD family members.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonardo Tondo
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorder Centers, Cagliari, Rome, Italy; International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorders Research, Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alessandro Miola
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorders Research, Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | - Marco Pinna
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorder Centers, Cagliari, Rome, Italy; Section on Psychiatry, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Martina Contu
- Lucio Bini Mood Disorder Centers, Cagliari, Rome, Italy
| | - Ross J Baldessarini
- International Consortium for Mood & Psychotic Disorders Research, Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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