This study investigates the intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma in youths diagnosed with mood disorders and their parents. Drawing on a sample of 443 individuals—including 100 youths with DSM-5 mood disorders, their parents, and matched healthy controls—the researchers assessed childhood trauma using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Findings revealed significantly higher trauma scores across all subtypes (emotional, physical, sexual abuse, and neglect) in patients compared to healthy youths. Parents of affected youths also reported elevated levels of physical abuse and emotional neglect compared to adult controls.
Crucially, emotional abuse emerged as the only trauma subtype with a medium level of familial resemblance (ICC = 0.25), suggesting a notable pattern of homotypic transmission. This supports the hypothesis that emotional abuse may perpetuate across generations, contributing to the development of mood disorders in offspring. The study underscores the importance of systematically assessing trauma histories in both youths and their parents and advocates for preventive strategies that promote positive parenting and emotionally supportive environments.
Limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on retrospective self-reporting. Nonetheless, the findings highlight emotional abuse as a key factor in the familial clustering of trauma and its potential role in the onset of mood disorders.
