Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
13:08
Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
The association between childhood trauma and memory functioning in schizophrenia.
Ciaran Shannon1, Kate Douse, Chris McCusker
1School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, N. Ireland. ciaran.shannon@qub.ac.uk
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|September 16, 2009
Summary
Childhood trauma significantly impacts memory in schizophrenia patients, particularly affecting working memory and episodic narrative memory. This highlights trauma
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is frequently associated with neurocognitive deficits and a history of childhood abuse.
- Childhood trauma is linked to memory impairments and reduced hippocampal volume in adult schizophrenia survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific contribution of childhood adversity to verbal memory functioning in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-five outpatients with chronic schizophrenia were categorized based on self-reported childhood trauma.
- Performance was assessed on episodic narrative memory, list learning, and working memory tasks.
- Multivariate analysis of covariance was employed to compare memory performance between groups.
Main Results:
- 45% of participants reported moderate to severe childhood adversity.
- The childhood trauma group exhibited significantly poorer working memory and episodic narrative memory.
- No significant differences in list learning were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Childhood trauma is a significant factor contributing to specific memory deficits in schizophrenia.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering trauma history in understanding cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:20Traumatic Memory
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual remembers mundane...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:16Repressed Memory
Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...