Childhood traumas in patients with multiple sclerosis and its relationship with suicide probability

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: It is known that suicide probability is more than the normal population in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been reported that childhood trauma increases suicide probability in many psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between childhood traumas and the probability of suicide in patients with MS. METHODS: The study included 61 patients with MS. The functional status of the patients with MS was evaluated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HAD), Childhood Trauma Inventory (CTQ-28) and Suicide Probability Scale (SPS) were applied to all patients. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups as 26 patients with childhood trauma (CTQ≥35) and 35 patients without childhood trauma (CTQ <35). The most common childhood trauma was emotional neglect (n: 28; 45,90%) and the patients’ mean EDSS score was 2.43 ± 1.68. The mean of HAD anxiety subscale (HAD-A) scores (P: 0,005), HAD depression subscale (HAD-D) scores (p: 0,034), SPS despair subscale scores (p: 0,031) and SPS total scores (p: 0,020) were higher in patients with childhood trauma. All CTQ subscales, except physical neglect, were found positively correlated with the SPS total score DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Suicide probability was significantly higher in patients with MS with childhood trauma. Patients should be evaluated in terms of childhood traumas in order to take necessary measures for suicide probability and to perform correct interventions in patients with MS.

Keywords

• multiple sclerosis
• childhood trauma
• suicide