[Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse (CECA) - validation of the German version of the questionnaire and interview, and results of an investigation of correlations between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal behaviour].

OBJECTIVES

Validation of the German translation of a questionnaire and the corresponding interview for the assessment of adverse childhood experiences within the family environment and investigation of an association of these experiences with suicidal behaviour.

METHOD

The questionnaire was tested in a consecutively recruited sample of 125 psychiatric inpatients (aged 13 to 25 years) at the University Hospital Heidelberg. Retests and corresponding interviews were also performed. Suicidal behaviour was measured by the Paykel Suicide Scale.

RESULTS

The questionnaire and interview showed very good internal consistency and retest reliability; the interrater reliability of the interview was good, and there was a significant correlation between the questionnaire and the interview. Suicidal behaviour was significantly associated to all adverse childhood experiences, but maternal neglect and antipathy proved to be the best predictors of suicidal behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

The CECA instruments are reliable and valid instruments for the assessment of adverse childhood experiences. They assess a broad spectrum of adverse childhood experiences including negative bonding experiences. The association of these experiences to higher levels of suicidal behaviour shows the importance of assessing such experiences in research and therapy.