Exploring psychological abuse in childhood: II. Association with other abuse and adult clinical depression

A new retrospective interview assessment of childhood psychological abuse, an extension to the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse (CECA) instrument, is described in a companion article (Moran, Bifulco, Ball, Jacobs, nearly all types of childhood adversity examined were significantly related. An analysis using an index of multiple abuse, including psychological abuse, showed a clear dose-response relationship to disorder. Somewhat fewer forms of maltreatment were related to suicidal behavior, but again multiples showed a clear dose-response effect.