EPP465
Childhood Trauma and Social Cognition Deficits in Early Psychosis: Evidence from the PREGAP Study
B. Pedruzo 1,*, C. Aymerich 2, L. Madaria 1, G. Acasuso 3, M. Á. Gonzalez-Torres 1, A. Catalán 1
1Psychiatry Department, Basurto University Hospital, Bilbao, Spain, 2Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom, 3Biobizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are disproportionately prevalent in early psychosis and may contribute to impairments in social cognition, a core predictor of functional outcomes. However, it remains unclear whether trauma explains unique variance in social cognition beyond the effects of psychosis itself.
Objectives: To examine whether ACE exposure contributes independently to deficits in social cognition across individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP), clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P), and healthy controls (HC).
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 107 participants were included (39 FEP, 35 CHR-P, 33 HC). ACEs were assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Social cognition was measured using a comprehensive battery covering theory of mind (MASC, Hinting, Faux Pas), facial emotion recognition (PERE), and general socio-cognitive functioning (GEOPTE). Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and IQ were performed. Three nested models were compared: Model A (ACE), Model B (clinical group), and Model C (combined). Interaction terms tested stage-dependent effects.
Results: Higher ACE exposure was significantly associated with worse performance in specific social cognition domains. Emotional abuse predicted greater socio-cognitive difficulties (GEOPTE; β=0.62, p=0.01), physical and sexual abuse were linked to impaired disgust recognition (β=-0.06 and -0.05, both p=0.02), and emotional neglect was related to reduced Hinting performance (β=-0.11, p=0.02) and recognition of neutral expressions (β=-0.09, p<0.01). Physical neglect was associated with both reduced recognition of neutrality (β=-0.14, p<0.01) and increased recognition of joy (β=0.06, p=0.05). Nested model comparisons showed that adding ACEs improved model fit beyond clinical status, particularly for neutral expressions (ΔR² up to 0.18, p<0.01). ACE-by-group interactions indicated that negative effects of abuse on disgust recognition were stronger in FEP and CHR-P than in HC.
Image 1:
Image 2:
Conclusions: Childhood trauma contributes independently and additively to deficits in theory of mind and emotion recognition in early psychosis. Findings underscore the need to integrate trauma-informed approaches in assessment and intervention for CHR-P and FEP populations.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared