A mediator between childhood trauma and clinical symptoms in females with bipolar disorder: social support

Abstract

Abstract Background Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severer mental disorder with gender differences. Both childhood trauma and social support play important roles in the BD course, especially in female patients. In this study, the relationship between childhood trauma and clinical symptoms of BD was investigated in female patients and the mediation effect of social support on this relationship. Methods This study included 57 females with BD and 53 age-matched healthy controls. The measurement of childhood trauma, social support, and clinical symptoms were measured using self-report questionnaires and clinical scales. Results Compared with healthy controls, females with BD showed higher levels of childhood trauma and lower levels of social support. In the BD group, high levels of childhood trauma were positively correlated with clinical symptoms. In addition, social support mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and clinical symptoms of BD, except for manic symptoms. Conclusions Studies should focus on the role of childhood trauma and social support in females with bipolar disorder. This study provides initial evidence that social support partially explains the relationship between childhood trauma and clinical symptoms of BD. Interventions providing social support may be beneficial for females with BD exposed to childhood trauma.