Lung disease and internalizing disorders. Is childhood abuse a shared etiologic factor?

To investigate the role of childhood abuse in the relationship between panic attack, depression and lung disease among adults in the population.

Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (n=5877), a representative sample of adults age 15-54 in the United States. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between childhood abuse and lung disease, and to determine whether childhood abuse is an independent predictor of the co-occurrence of lung disease, panic attack and depression.

Childhood abuse was associated with significantly increased odds of panic attacks (OR=2.2 (1.5, 3.1)) and depression (OR=1.6 (1.1, 2.3)). Childhood abuse increased likelihood of lung disease (OR=1.5 (1.1, 2.2)). Childhood abuse independently predicted the co-occurrence of lung disease, panic attack and depression (OR=10.7 (2.2, 51.5)).

These data are preliminary, but if replicated, suggest that childhood abuse may be associated with increased risk of lung disease during adulthood, and further may reflect a shared vulnerability for the co-occurrence of lung disease, panic attack and depression in the community. Future studies are needed to further explore the mechanism of this association.