Dimension-Specific Childhood Maltreatment and Cross-Sectional Markers of Illness Burden in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. d’Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- 2Department of Mental Health, ASL 02 Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- 3Department of Pediatrics, Università degli Studi G. d’Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- 4Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Clinical Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
Abstract
Background/Objectives: We examined global and dimension-specific childhood maltreatment in relation to cross-sectional illness burden in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: This retrospective, single-center, case-only study included 104 records from November 2025 to June 2026. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF) was completed during TRD assessment. Primary outcomes were elapsed ongoing major depressive episode (MDE) duration and retrospectively reconstructed lifetime failed antidepressant-trial count; illness duration and previous MDEs were secondary. Models adjusted for age, sex, and extraction block; false discovery rate (FDR) correction covered 28 tests. Results: CTQ total and trauma load showed no significant linear associations. Per 5 points, physical abuse was associated with longer elapsed MDE duration (+50.3%; 95% CI, 24.0–82.2%; p < 0.001; q < 0.001) and more failed trials (IRR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10–1.30; p < 0.001; q < 0.001). Sexual abuse was associated with longer elapsed duration (+59.8%; 95% CI, 26.5–101.9%; p < 0.001; q = 0.001). Physical-abuse associations did not survive FDR correction in mutually adjusted subscale models; the failed-trial association also weakened after episode-duration adjustment. Emotional-neglect associations were inverse and require caution. Conclusions: These cross-sectional findings are hypothesis-generating and require prospective replication with standardized treatment histories and remission outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{dandrea2026dimensionspecific,
title = {{Dimension-Specific Childhood Maltreatment and Cross-Sectional Markers of Illness Burden in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Retrospective Single-Center Study}},
author = {Giacomo d’Andrea and Luca Persico and Arianna Rosati and Clara Cavallotto and Emilia Esposito and Alessia Santeusanio and Michela D’Angola and Ilenia Rosa and Lorenzo Pio Padula and Antonio Arrè and Corinna Bozzelli and Alessandra De Franco and Lorenzo Varrica and Gianfranco Tamagnini and Mauro Pettorruso and Giovanni Martinotti},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15208182},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/8182},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dimension-Specific Childhood Maltreatment and Cross-Sectional Markers of Illness Burden in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
AU - Giacomo d’Andrea
AU - Luca Persico
AU - Arianna Rosati
AU - Clara Cavallotto
AU - Emilia Esposito
AU - Alessia Santeusanio
AU - Michela D’Angola
AU - Ilenia Rosa
AU - Lorenzo Pio Padula
AU - Antonio Arrè
AU - Corinna Bozzelli
AU - Alessandra De Franco
AU - Lorenzo Varrica
AU - Gianfranco Tamagnini
AU - Mauro Pettorruso
AU - Giovanni Martinotti
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15208182
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/20/8182
AB - Background/Objectives: We examined global and dimension-specific childhood maltreatment in relation to cross-sectional illness burden in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: This retrospective, single-center, case-only study included 104 records from November 2025 to June 2026. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF) was completed during TRD assessment. Primary outcomes were elapsed ongoing major depressive episode (MDE) duration and retrospectively reconstructed lifetime failed antidepressant-trial count; illness duration and previous MDEs were secondary. Models adjusted for age, sex, and extraction block; false discovery rate (FDR) correction covered 28 tests. Results: CTQ total and trauma load showed no significant linear associations. Per 5 points, physical abuse was associated with longer elapsed MDE duration (+50.3%; 95% CI, 24.0–82.2%; p < 0.001; q < 0.001) and more failed trials (IRR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10–1.30; p < 0.001; q < 0.001). Sexual abuse was associated with longer elapsed duration (+59.8%; 95% CI, 26.5–101.9%; p < 0.001; q = 0.001). Physical-abuse associations did not survive FDR correction in mutually adjusted subscale models; the failed-trial association also weakened after episode-duration adjustment. Emotional-neglect associations were inverse and require caution. Conclusions: These cross-sectional findings are hypothesis-generating and require prospective replication with standardized treatment histories and remission outcomes.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -