Interplay Between Childhood Maltreatment, Subclinical Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, and IQ: Findings From the EU-GEI Multicentre Case–Control Study
Publication date
2025-08
Authors
Sideli, Lucia
Aas, Monica
Alameda, Luis
Trotta, Giulia
La Barbera, Daniele
La Cascia, Caterina
Ferraro, Laura
Velthorst, Eva
Tripoli, Giada
Schimmenti, Adriano
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
Metadata
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License
cc_by
Abstract
Introduction: Evidence suggests that childhood maltreatment affects cognitive performance in both patients with psychosis and community controls. However, the interplay between childhood maltreatment, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and intelligence has not been investigated. This study investigated the relationship between childhood maltreatment, subclinical PTSS, and intelligence among patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and community controls. Methods: Patients with FEP (N = 602) and controls (N = 853) from the EU-GEI study were assessed for childhood maltreatment, PTSS, and intelligence quotient (IQ). Results: PTSS were associated with lower IQ among community controls but not among patients with FEP. In the FEP group, an interaction (p = 0.044) between PTSS and childhood maltreatment on IQ was found, such that the association between PTSS and lower IQ was only present among those exposed to childhood maltreatment. No interaction was evident in controls (p = 0.826). Conclusions: The findings suggest the relevance of cognitive rehabilitation for FEP patients with childhood maltreatment and PTSS.
Keywords
childhood maltreatment, first episode, intelligence, post-traumatic stress, psychosis, Phychiatric Mental Health, Psychiatry and Mental health, Biological Psychiatry
Citation
Sideli, L, Aas, M, Alameda, L, Trotta, G, La Barbera, D, La Cascia, C, Ferraro, L, Velthorst, E, Tripoli, G, Schimmenti, A, Fontana, A, Quattrone, D, Gayer-Anderson, C, Rodriguez, V, Spinazzola, E, Stilo, S, Seminerio, F, Sartorio, C, Marrazzo, G, Lasalvia, A, Tosato, S, Tarricone, I, D'Andrea, G, Amoretti, S, Andreu-Bernabeu, Á, Baudin, G, Beards, S, Bonetto, C, Bonora, E, Cabrera, B, Carracedo, A, Charpeaud, T, Costas, J, Cristofalo, D, Durán-Cutilla, M, Ferchiou, A, Fraguas, D, Franke, N, Frijda, F, Llorente, C, Garcia-Portilla, P, González Peñas, J, Hubbard, K, Jamain, S, Jiménez-López, E, Leboyer, M, López Montoya, G, Termorshuizen, F, Van Os, J, Rutten, B P & EU-GEI WP2 Group 2025, 'Interplay Between Childhood Maltreatment, Subclinical Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, and IQ : Findings From the EU-GEI Multicentre Case–Control Study', Early Intervention in Psychiatry, vol. 19, no. 8, e70079. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.70079