Childhood trauma assessed using the childhood trauma questionnaire and its influence on pediatric mood disorders and self-harm: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma (CT) is a significant risk factor for mood disorders and self-harm behaviors in children and adolescents. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) is the gold standard for quantifying early adversity dimensions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize evidence on the relationship between CT, as assessed by the CTQ, mood disorders, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in pediatric samples.

METHODS

We followed PRISMA guidelines to identify studies assessing CT with the CTQ in children/adolescents with mood disorders or NSSI. We assessed the methodological quality of included studies through the JBI Checklist. Random-effects meta-analyses, along with appropriate heterogeneity analyses, were performed to compare individuals with mood disorder versus healthy controls and individuals with/without NSSI using the CTQ total score and subscales.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies among the 3532 identified records were eligible and included in the final review. The meta-analysis indicated a strong association between CT and mood disorders (n = 613, SMD = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.702 to 1.480; p < 0.001), as well as between CT and NSSI (n = 1245, SMD = 0.600, 95% CI: 0.486 to 0.715; p < 0.001). Results were consistent across all CTQ scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate a significant association between CT, as measured by the CTQ, and both mood disorders and NSSI in pediatric populations. These findings highlight the importance of trauma assessments in identifying and supporting at-risk children.