Fatores mediadores da relação entre traumas infantis e depressão em idosos

Abstract

Introduction: The accelerated aging of the population provides an increase in the contingent of elderly individuals with psychiatric disorders. Of the factors that influence the genesis of episodes of depression in the elderly, childhood maltreatment is one of the most important. Interventions based on evidence are necessary so that childhood maltreatment can be treated before the development of the psychopathology. The understanding of how childhood maltreatment interacts with personality traits to increase the risk of geriatric depression can provide for the study of effective strategies for the prevention of this mental illness. Objective: This study proposes to investigate the personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness) as mediators to the relationship between childhood trauma and depression in the elderly. Methodology: The sample is composed of elderly individuals aged 60 or over. Socio-demographic, depression (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), personality traits (NEO Five Factor Inventory) and childhood maltreatment (CTQ Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) data was collected. All of the individuals interviewed were informed of the projects objectives and signed an informed consent. The transversal study database “The influence of the personality characteristics and attachment in development, clinical manifestation and the prognosis of cognitive disorders” was used. This project derived from the population in accompaniment in the cohort study “Cerebral Aging Program (PENCE)”. A mediation analysis using structural equations model was completed to determine the mediation of the personality factors of the elderly that present childhood maltreatment and geriatric depression. Results: Neuroticism and extraversion are complete mediators, agreeableness and conscientiousness are partial mediators and openness to new experiences is not a mediator. Conclusion: Personality traits are mediators in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and geriatric depression. The reduction of the non-adaptive personality traits can reduce the manifestation of geriatric depression in the elderly who experienced childhood maltreatment.