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Childhood adversity

What is childhood adversity in bipolar disorder?

Childhood adversities encompass a range of childhood experiences, including loss of a close relative, bullying, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. The nature, timing, severity, and duration of exposure are likely to influence mental health outcomes.

What is the evidence for childhood adversities in people with bipolar disorder?

Moderate quality evidence finds a small to medium-sized increased risk of bipolar disorder after exposure to any childhood adversity. There were significantly higher rates of childhood adversity in people with bipolar disorder compared to people without bipolar disorder and compared to people with major depression. No differences in rates of childhood adversity were found between people with bipolar disorder and people with schizophrenia.

The rate of childhood emotional abuse in adults with bipolar disorder is around 30.0% compared to a general population rate between 6.54% and 14.07%. The rate of childhood physical abuse in adults with bipolar disorder is around 18.0% compared to a general population rate between 6.69% and 12.0%. The rate of childhood sexual abuse in adults with bipolar disorder is around 22.0% compared to a general population rate between 6.2% and 9.46%. The rate of childhood emotional neglect in adults with bipolar disorder is around 31.0% compared to a general population rate between 13.3% and 16.19%. The rate of childhood physical neglect in bipolar disorder is around 30.0% (no population rate is reported for physical neglect).

Childhood adversity is associated with more symptom episodes and severity, rapid cycling, psychosis, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, suicides, and an earlier age at onset.

October 2021

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Last updated at: 4:29 pm, 7th April 2022
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