Objective: We investigated the relationship between health-related
quality of life (HRQoL), childhood trauma (CT), sociodemographic
factors, and clinical characteristics in patients with severe mental
disorders.
Method: A total of 158 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum
disorders or bipolar disorder were evaluated. Data were collected using
the Short Form-12 (SF-12), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Clinical
Global Impression-Severity Scale, and sociodemographic information
form.
Results: CT was reported in 62.7% of participants. SF-12 physical
component scores were lower in women (p=0.012), married individuals
(p=0.002), and patients with comorbidities (p=0.005). SF-12 mental
component scores were lower in patients who smoked (p=0.013)
and used substances (p=0.030), treated with long-acting injectable
antipsychotics (p=0.008), and had a history of suicide attempts
(p=0.014). Physical HRQoL scores were negatively correlated with age
(r=-0.222, p=0.006), body mass index (r=-0.277, p=0.002) and illness
duration (r=-0.215, p=0.010); mental HRQoL scores were negatively
correlated with antipsychotic dose (r=-0.166, p=0.041) and CGI-S
scores (r=-0.376, p <0.001). Emotional neglect (β=0.220, p=0.018) and
physical abuse (β=0.252, p=0.006) were associated with lower physical
HRQoL scores; emotional neglect (β=0.212, p=0.019) and sexual abuse
(β=0.299, p<0.001) were associated with lower mental HRQoL scores.
Conclusion: CT was found to be a key factor contributing to lower
HRQoL in individuals with severe mental disorders. Our findings
emphasize the importance of screening for CT and trauma-focused care
approaches in mental healthcare services.
Keywords: Childhood trauma, community mental health services,
health-related quality of life, severe mental disorder