Chen Yuan-Jung, Lu Mong-Liang, Chiu Yi-Hang, Chen Chenyi, Santos Vitor Hugo Jesus, Goh Kah Kheng
Department of Psychiatry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Psychiatric Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Schizophrenia (Heidelb). 2024 Feb 22;10(1):24. doi: 10.1038/s41537-024-00433-9.
Childhood trauma has been linked to schizophrenia, but underlying biological mechanisms remain elusive. This study explored the potential role of plasma oxytocin as a mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and the psychopathology of schizophrenia. 160 patients with schizophrenia and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed for childhood trauma experiences using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and structured interviews. Psychopathology was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and plasma oxytocin levels were measured. Results showed that patients with schizophrenia had lower oxytocin levels and higher childhood trauma scores than healthy controls. There was a significant correlation between childhood trauma scores and psychopathology, with plasma oxytocin levels being inversely associated with psychopathology, except for positive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that both childhood trauma scores and plasma oxytocin levels significantly predicted psychopathology. Plasma oxytocin levels partially mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and schizophrenia psychopathology. This study underscores the potential role of oxytocin in bridging the gap between childhood trauma and schizophrenia.
童年创伤与精神分裂症有关，但潜在的生物学机制仍不清楚。本研究探讨了血浆催产素作为童年创伤与精神分裂症精神病理学之间关系的中介的潜在作用。使用儿童创伤问卷和结构化访谈对160例精神分裂症患者和80例年龄及性别匹配的健康对照者进行童年创伤经历评估。使用阳性和阴性症状量表评估精神病理学，并测量血浆催产素水平。结果显示，精神分裂症患者的催产素水平低于健康对照者，童年创伤得分高于健康对照者。童年创伤得分与精神病理学之间存在显著相关性，除阳性症状外，血浆催产素水平与精神病理学呈负相关。分层回归分析表明，童年创伤得分和血浆催产素水平均显著预测精神病理学情况。血浆催产素水平部分介导了童年创伤与精神分裂症精神病理学之间的关系。本研究强调了催产素在弥合童年创伤与精神分裂症之间差距方面的潜在作用。
