Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Childhood trauma, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, has been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of personality disorders in adulthood. Early adverse experiences disrupt psychological development, leading to maladaptive personality traits, emotional dysregulation, impaired interpersonal relationships and increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Despite extensive research, the precise long‐term impact of childhood trauma on the manifestation of specific personality disorders remains an area requiring further exploration. This study aims to examine the association between childhood trauma and the development of adult personality disorders, identifying key trauma types that contribute to different personality pathology patterns. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, including 120 adult patients diagnosed with personality disorders based on DSM‐5 criteria. Participants were assessed for childhood trauma exposure using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and categorized based on abuse type (emotional, physical, sexual) and neglect type (emotional, physical). The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5 Personality Disorders (SCID‐5‐PD) was used to classify personality disorders into Cluster A (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal), Cluster B (antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic) and Cluster C (avoidant, dependent, obsessive‐compulsive). Statistical analyses included chi‐square tests for categorical variables and logistic regression models to determine the strength of association between trauma exposure and specific personality disorder clusters. The findings are expected to reveal a strong correlation between childhood trauma and personality disorder development, with Cluster B disorders (particularly borderline and antisocial personality disorder) showing the highest prevalence in individuals with a history of severe emotional and physical abuse. Cluster C disorders are anticipated to be more strongly linked to emotional neglect, whereas Cluster A disorders may have a weaker association with childhood trauma but could still demonstrate patterns of early adversity. Regression analysis is expected to demonstrate that early trauma exposure significantly increases the odds of developing a personality disorder, emphasizing the dose‐response effect of trauma severity on psycho pathology. This study underscores the lasting impact of childhood trauma on adult personality pathology, emphasizing the need for early psychological interventions to mitigate long‐term psychiatric consequences. The results highlight the importance of trauma‐informed care and early screening for childhood maltreatment in clinical settings to prevent or minimize the emergence of personality disorders.
How to cite this article:
Sajeesh Sudarsanan, Nayana R. Nakul and C. Rakesh. Childhood Trauma and its Long‐Term Impact on Adult Personality Disorders: A Retrospective and Cohort Study.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2025.2.380.385
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2025.2.380.385