The impact of a history of child abuse on cognitive performance: a cross-sectional study in older patients with a depressive, anxiety, or somatic symptom disorder

F M Tjoelker, H W Jeuring, I Aprahamian, P Naarding, R M Marijnissen, G J Hendriks, D Rhebergen, A Lugtenburg, M W Lammers, R H S van den Brink, R C Oude Voshaar*

*Corresponding author voor dit werk

OnderzoeksoutputAcademicpeer review

9 Citaten (Scopus)
138 Downloads (Pure)

Samenvatting

BACKGROUND: Child abuse is a major global burden with an enduring negative impact on mental and physical health. A history of child abuse is consistently associated with worse cognitive performance among adults; data in older age groups are inconclusive. Since affective symptoms and cognitive functioning are interrelated among older persons, a synergistic effect can be assumed in patients with affective symptoms who also have suffered from child abuse. This study examines the association between a history of child abuse and cognitive performance in such patients.

METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from the 'Routine Outcome Monitoring for Geriatric Psychiatry & Science' project, including 179 older adults (age 60-88 years) with either a unipolar depressive, any anxiety, or somatic symptom disorder referred to specialized geriatric mental health care. A history of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, and emotional neglect was assessed with a structured interview. Cognitive functioning was measured with three paper and pencils tests (10-words verbal memory test, Stroop Colour-Word test, Digit Span) and four tests from the computerized Cogstate Test Battery (Detection Test, Identification Test, One Card Learning Test, One Back Test). The association between a history of child abuse and cognitive performance was examined by multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS: Principal component analyses of nine cognitive parameters revealed four cognitive domains, i.e., visual-verbal memory, psychomotor speed, working memory and interference control. A history of child abuse was not associated with any of these cognitive domains. However, when looking at the specific types of child abuse separately, a history of physical abuse and emotional neglect were associated with poorer interference control. A history of physical abuse was additionally associated with better visual-verbal memory.

CONCLUSIONS: The association between a history of child abuse and cognitive performance differs between the different types of abuse. A history of physical abuse might particularly be a key determinant of cognitive performance in older adults with a depressive, anxiety, or somatic symptom disorder. Future studies on the impact of these disorders on the onset of dementia should take child abuse into account.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ROM-GPS is registered at the Dutch Trial Register ( NL6704 at www.trialregister.nl ).

Originele taal-2English
Artikelnummer377
Aantal pagina's11
TijdschriftBMC Geriatrics
Volume22
DOI's
StatusPublished - 28-apr.-2022

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