Abstract
Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating depressive and manic or hypomanic episodes. Literature indicates that childhood adverse experiences (UT) can affect psychiatric disorders and their clinical manifestations. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between the emotional subcategories of UT and bipolar disorder, with number and severity of reported UT, age of onset (AOO) and gender differences, to emphasize this. The project is a literature study. Data was analysed by quantitative method. The search profile from January 20-February 21 resulted in 11 studies, that applied The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to evaluate traumatic childhood experiences in patients with bipolar disorder. The results of this study show a link between patients with bipolar disorder and the subgroups emotional neglect (EN) and emotional abuse (EA). Emotional neglect is reported as most common (37%) and most severe (score = 10.4). Earlier AOO is connected to elevated CTQ-EA and/or CTQ-EN scores. Gender differences in reported CTQ-scores can be found, with a higher average score from female subjects. Emotional neglect and abuse are the most influential subgroups of childhood adverse experiences for bipolar disorder. History of emotional neglect or emotional abuse is connected to earlier AOO. This study observed a higher reported trauma score from women, than men.