History of childhood trauma and disruptive behaviors in the medical setting.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we examined relationships between five types of childhood trauma and 17 disruptive behaviors in the medical setting.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional consecutive sample of 394 internal medicine outpatients, we surveyed participants about five types of childhood trauma (i.e. witnessing of violence, physical neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse) and 17 disruptive behaviors in the medical setting (e.g., yelling, cursing, threatening medical personnel).

RESULTS

Initial correlations indicated relationships between four of the five forms of childhood trauma and the number of different disruptive behaviors endorsed. However, using multiple regression analysis, only witnessing violence and physical abuse remained independent predictors of disruptive behaviors in the medical setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with childhood histories of witnessing violence and/or physical abuse are at-risk for perpetrating various disruptive behaviors in the medical setting.