Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
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
9.3K
Traumatic experiences, family functioning, and mood disorder development in bipolar offspring
Manja A Koenders1,2, Esther Mesman3, Erik J Giltay4
1Outpatient Treatment Department of Bipolar Disorders, PsyQ Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|February 21, 2020
Summary
Children of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) face higher risks for mood disorders. Emotional maltreatment in childhood is linked to mood disorder onset in these high-risk offspring, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) have an elevated risk of developing mood disorders.
- Environmental factors, including childhood trauma and family functioning, may influence this risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between childhood trauma and family functioning and the development of mood disorders in adolescent offspring of parents with BD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal cohort study (Dutch Bipolar Offspring Study).
- 102 offspring of parents with BD evaluated over 12 years.
- Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) for offspring-reported trauma; Questionnaire for Family Problems (QFP) for mother-reported family functioning.
Main Results:
- Emotional maltreatment was significantly associated with mood disorder onset (HR=1.82).
- No significant association was found between family functioning (total score or subscales) and mood disorder onset.
Conclusions:
- Emotional maltreatment is a significant risk factor for mood disorder development in offspring of bipolar parents.
- Parent-reported family functioning did not correlate with offspring-reported emotional maltreatment or mood disorder onset.
- Further research with multi-informant methods is needed to clarify these relationships.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bipolar Disorder
536
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
536
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
511
A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Diagnostic Criteria and...
511
01:25Borderline Personality Disorder
416
Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex and multifaceted mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and impulse control. This instability manifests in extreme emotional reactions, fear of abandonment, and self-destructive behaviors. The disorder significantly impacts daily functioning, often leading to distress in both personal and professional domains.
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
416
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
352
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
352
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
400
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...
400
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
493
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as...
493