Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin
Abstract Childhood trauma has been linked to schizophrenia, but underlying biological mechanisms remain elusive. This study explored the potential role of plasma oxytocin as a mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and the psychopathology of schizophrenia. 160 patients with schizophre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Schizophrenia |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-024-00433-9 |
| _version_ | 1797274268447277056 |
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| author | Yuan-Jung Chen Mong-Liang Lu Yi-Hang Chiu Chenyi Chen Vitor Hugo Jesus Santos Kah Kheng Goh |
| author_facet | Yuan-Jung Chen Mong-Liang Lu Yi-Hang Chiu Chenyi Chen Vitor Hugo Jesus Santos Kah Kheng Goh |
| author_sort | Yuan-Jung Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Childhood trauma has been linked to schizophrenia, but underlying biological mechanisms remain elusive. This study explored the potential role of plasma oxytocin as a mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and the psychopathology of schizophrenia. 160 patients with schizophrenia and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed for childhood trauma experiences using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and structured interviews. Psychopathology was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and plasma oxytocin levels were measured. Results showed that patients with schizophrenia had lower oxytocin levels and higher childhood trauma scores than healthy controls. There was a significant correlation between childhood trauma scores and psychopathology, with plasma oxytocin levels being inversely associated with psychopathology, except for positive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that both childhood trauma scores and plasma oxytocin levels significantly predicted psychopathology. Plasma oxytocin levels partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and schizophrenia psychopathology. This study underscores the potential role of oxytocin in bridging the gap between childhood trauma and schizophrenia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:57:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f35cb750e6ea4d30aa9e13acbabcab5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2754-6993 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:57:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Schizophrenia |
| spelling | doaj.art-f35cb750e6ea4d30aa9e13acbabcab5e2024-03-05T19:25:23ZengNature PortfolioSchizophrenia2754-69932024-02-0110111110.1038/s41537-024-00433-9Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocinYuan-Jung Chen0Mong-Liang Lu1Yi-Hang Chiu2Chenyi Chen3Vitor Hugo Jesus Santos4Kah Kheng Goh5Department of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityPsychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences (FCS-UBI), Cova da Beira University Hospital CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical UniversityAbstract Childhood trauma has been linked to schizophrenia, but underlying biological mechanisms remain elusive. This study explored the potential role of plasma oxytocin as a mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and the psychopathology of schizophrenia. 160 patients with schizophrenia and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed for childhood trauma experiences using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and structured interviews. Psychopathology was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and plasma oxytocin levels were measured. Results showed that patients with schizophrenia had lower oxytocin levels and higher childhood trauma scores than healthy controls. There was a significant correlation between childhood trauma scores and psychopathology, with plasma oxytocin levels being inversely associated with psychopathology, except for positive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that both childhood trauma scores and plasma oxytocin levels significantly predicted psychopathology. Plasma oxytocin levels partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and schizophrenia psychopathology. This study underscores the potential role of oxytocin in bridging the gap between childhood trauma and schizophrenia.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-024-00433-9 |
| spellingShingle | Yuan-Jung Chen Mong-Liang Lu Yi-Hang Chiu Chenyi Chen Vitor Hugo Jesus Santos Kah Kheng Goh Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin Schizophrenia |
| title | Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin |
| title_full | Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin |
| title_fullStr | Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin |
| title_short | Linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia: the role of oxytocin |
| title_sort | linking childhood trauma to the psychopathology of schizophrenia the role of oxytocin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-024-00433-9 |
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