Childhood Trauma and Resilience as Influencing Factors on Impulsivity Among Patients with Bipolar Disorders

Background: Childhood trauma triggers exacerbate and cause the recurrence of various psychiatric diseases, including bipolar disorder. Childhood trauma in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder has been linked to an increased severity of manic and depressive episodes, as well as psychotic symptoms. Additionally, these patients often experience a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions such as substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders. Aim of the study: The study aimed to investigate the effect of childhood trauma and resilience on impulsivity among patients with bipolar disorder. Subjects and methods: Research design: Descriptive correlational research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinics at Zagazig University Hospitals in Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample, which included 100 patients with bipolar disorder. Tools of data collection: four tools, namely: Demographic interview sheets, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Resilience Scale, and Barratt Impulsivity Scale were requested to be completed by the participants. Results: Highly statistically significant negative correlations were found between resilience and both childhood trauma and impulsivity. However, a highly statistically significant positive correlation was found between childhood trauma and impulsivity. Conclusion: Childhood trauma was a significant positive predictor of higher impulsivity, while Resilience was a significant negative predictor of higher impulsivity. Recommendation: psychosocial intervention that address childhood trauma and/or associated affective consequences, like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or trauma-focused cognitive and behavioral therapy, may be included.