Background: The functional impairment resulting from CPTSD symptoms is enduring and far-reaching. Existing research has found that CPTSD symptoms are closely associated with childhood maltreatment; however, researchers debate whether CPTSD symptoms are predominantly influenced by a specific type of childhood maltreatment or the combined influence of multiple maltreatment types.Objective: (1) Examines the impact of childhood maltreatment on CPTSD symptoms, specifically exploring whether specific types of maltreatment or the cumulative exposure to multiple types of maltreatment play a predominant role. (2) Investigates the role of positive psychological traits in this relationship, assessing whether these traits serve as protective factors or are outcomes of the negative psychological consequences of maltreatment.Methods: A sample of 1894 adolescents (Mage = 13.88; SD = 1.00) from a chronically impoverished rural area in China completed the International Trauma Questionnaire - Child and Adolescent Version for CPTSD symptoms, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form for childhood maltreatment types. Positive psychological traits, including mindfulness, self-compassion, and gratitude, were measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form, and the Gratitude Questionnaire. We addressed the research question using explainable machine learning methods, with SHAP enhancing model interpretability.Results: The findings indicate that emotional abuse is the most effective predictor of CPTSD symptoms, with individuals who experienced emotional abuse showing higher rates of other forms of maltreatment. Among positive psychological traits, mindfulness contributes the most, followed by self-compassion, while gratitude shows no significant association with CPTSD symptoms. Additionally, individuals with poor positive psychological traits are more likely to have experienced maltreatment, whereas those with higher positive traits are less exposed to abuse.Conclusions: Emotional abuse and low levels of positive psychological traits are strongly associated with CPTSD symptoms in adolescents from impoverished areas, with positive traits showing limited buffering effects against maltreatment.

Revisiting the epidemiology of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) among university students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as well as understanding the mental health help-seeking behavior of individuals with PTSSs has critical implications for public mental health strategies in future medical pandemics.

To investigate the prevalence and correlates of PTSSs among university students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and to examine mental health help-seeking behaviors among these students.

A total of 2507 Chinese university students were recruited via snowball sampling. The students completed the Seven-item Screening Scale for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Sociodemographic characteristics, pandemic-related characteristics, and mental health help-seeking behaviors of students with PTSSs were also collected.

The prevalence of PTSSs among the participants was 28.0%. Seven significant correlates of PTSSs were identified (odds ratio = 1.23-3.65, P ≤ 0.024): Female sex, being 19 years old or older, living with others or alone, a low level of family economic status, fair or poor interpersonal relationships, severe or very severe local pandemic, and having family members diagnosed with COVID-19. However, only 3.28% of the students with PTSSs reported seeking help from mental health specialists. Among the 23 students who sought help from mental health specialists, 13 opted for online or telephone-based psychological consultation.

Our data suggest that there was a high risk of PTSSs among university students and a high level of unmet mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The delivery of mental health services online or via telephone is a promising approach to address these unmet needs.

ABSTRACTBackground: Trauma can give rise to mental health problems and emotional and interpersonal difficulties, which in turn can perpetuate the cycle of trauma and adversity for future generations. However, little is known about the prevalence and potential effects of trauma and trauma-related mental health problems among parents.Objective: The primary goal of this study was to examine childhood and adulthood trauma and trauma-related symptoms among mothers of children aged between 6 and 18. We also conducted exploratory analyses of their potential relationship with children's emotional and behavioural problems.Method: A total of 817 mothers living with a child aged between 6 and 18 in Taiwan completed standardized self-report assessments of trauma exposure, trauma-related symptoms, and children's emotional and behavioural problems. A subsample (n = 256) also provided follow-up data after six months.Results: Most surveyed mothers reported at least one childhood traumatic event (74.79%) and one adulthood traumatic event (78.70%); 4.4% met the ICD-11 criteria for PTSD, and 12.1% for complex PTSD; 11.4% reported clinically significant dissociative symptoms. Mothers' complex PTSD and dissociative symptoms were cross-sectionally correlated with children's emotional and behavioural problem (rs = .186 to .239, p < .001). After controlling for possible confounding variables and baseline scores, mothers' childhood non-betrayal trauma reported at baseline was found to be a predictor of children's emotional and behavioural problems reported at follow up.Conclusion: This study is the first to provide data regarding childhood and adulthood trauma and trauma-related disorders, including ICD-11 complex PTSD, among mothers in the community. It calls for more studies to understand the potential effects of intergenerational trauma.

The use of single-item measures of self-rated mental health (SRMH) has been increasingly valued in epidemiologic research. However, little is known about the reliability and mental health correlates of SRMH in Chinese populations. This study examined the reliability and mental health correlates of SRMH in three Chinese samples. We analyzed data collected from two convenience samples of Chinese adults from Hong Kong and/or Taiwan (Sample 1: N = 205; Sample 2: N = 377), and a random sample of Taiwan psychiatric inpatients (Sample 3: N = 100). Our results showed that the single-item measure of SRMH had moderate to good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation [ICC] = 0.75) in Sample 1 and acceptable reliability between the self-report and interviewer-administered versions (ICC = 0.58) in Sample 3. It had a high positive correlation with self-esteem and a moderately high negative correlation with depression. It also had a consistently negative correlation with borderline personality disorder symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. The SRMH score was also associated with psychiatric service usage. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the use of a single-item measure of SRMH to assess overall self-perceived mental health in Chinese communities.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the high prevalence of dissociative symptoms and their association with considerable healthcare costs. However, there is a lack of studies that describe whether dissociative symptoms persist and lead to other clinical outcomes over time in the community.Objectives: This study investigated the persistence, predictors, and consequences of dissociative symptoms in the community.Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data in a sample of community health service users in Hong Kong (N = 173).Results: A relatively high proportion (63.6%) of participants with baseline dissociative symptoms continued to exhibit dissociative symptoms after approximately 9 months. Baseline non-betrayal trauma predicted subsequent dissociative symptoms (β = .141, p = .024). Participants with baseline dissociative symptoms were more likely to have received subsequent emergency mental health services (9.1% vs 0.7%, p = .005). Baseline dissociative symptoms significantly predicted subsequent post-traumatic symptoms (β = .165 to .191, p < .05) and difficulty in social and occupational participation (β = -.152 to -.182, p < .05) even after controlling for baseline scores, trauma exposure, and use of professional support. The predictive role of dissociative symptoms on subsequent disturbances in self-organization symptoms and social participation difficulty remained significant after applying the Bonferroni correction.Conclusions: This is one of the very few studies showing that dissociative symptoms are persistent to a certain degree and could predict other symptoms and subsequent impairments even in community settings. Factors that affect the trajectory of dissociative symptoms should be further investigated. Regular screening for dissociative symptoms is recommended. Considering its prevalence, persistence, and clinical and social consequences, dissociation should be given greater public health attention.

Recent studies found that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms are common in people with depressive symptoms. Although a trauma-related subtype of depression has been proposed, little is known about the persistence and clinical consequences of these symptoms.

This one-year follow-up study investigated the persistence and clinical consequences of post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms in people with depressive symptoms.

We analyzed longitudinal data from an international sample of people self-reporting depressive emotions (N = 152) (mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score = 17.27; SD = 6.31).

More than half (58.4%) of participants with baseline post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still met the criteria for PTSD after one year. Participants with dissociative symptoms at baseline were significantly more likely to report lifetime psychiatric hospitalization (31.2% vs 14.7%), past-year use of psychiatric hospitalization (10.4% vs 0%) and emergency services (16.9% vs 4%) than those without dissociative symptoms. All post-traumatic and dissociative symptom clusters were cross-sectionally (r = .286 to .528, p < .001) and longitudinally (r = .181 to .462, p < .001) correlated with depressive symptoms. A sense of current threat (β = .146, p < .05) and negative self-concept (β = .173, p < .05) at baseline significantly predicted depressive symptoms after one year.

These findings contribute to the increasing body of knowledge regarding the PTSD/dissociation-depression comorbidity. Given their persistence and clinical consequences, we recommend that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms be regularly screened for in clinical settings. The existence of a possible trauma-related subtype of depression should receive more attention in both research and clinical practice.

Previous studies have indicated that borderline personality disorder (BPD) is closely associated with trauma and dissociation. Nevertheless, BPD is a heterogeneous condition, and not all people with BPD have severe dissociation. This study examined whether the relationship of BPD features with trauma and dissociation would remain significant after controlling for some general non-specific mental health distress. We also made the first attempt to explore which specific BPD features would be particularly associated with dissociation.

We analyzed survey data from a sample of community health service users in Hong Kong (N = 376). Hierarchical multiple regression and data-driven network analysis were used.

The lifetime prevalence of DSM-5 BPD was 16.0% in our sample. Of participants who met criteria for BPD, 43.3% scored above cutoff on the dissociation measures, thus possibly having clinically significant dissociative symptoms. BPD features were associated with adulthood trauma and psychoform dissociation even after controlling for age, depression and self-esteem. Network analysis showed that some BPD features - including impulsivity, identity disturbance and suicidal/self-mutilation behaviors - were particularly associated with dissociation; other BPD features such as interpersonal-related problems had relatively weak to no connection with dissociation.

Our results suggested that some particular BPD features might be dissociative in nature, although further longitudinal research is required. We argue that a trauma-informed perspective should be employed when working with clients presenting with BPD features despite these features being commonly stigmatized. Further research on the intervention needs of the people with BPD who suffer from high levels of dissociation is required.