THE ROLE OF LIFETIME TRAUMA IN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING IN PATIENTS WITH A DIAGNOSED DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Purpose: Exposure to trauma has been associated with depression, hostility, self-harm and other problems of daily life. Trauma is defined based on previous studies which suggest that events of direct or indirect exposure to interpersonal violence and other traumatic experiences may place individuals at risk for several dysfunctional psychological orientations. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between lifetime trauma and behavioral and psychological factors such as symptoms of depression and problems with aggression. Methods: We used an exploratory approach in a cross-sectional, correlation study designed to assess the potential relationship of life trauma with symptoms of depression and indicators of aggression. The subjects for this study were 14 women between the ages of 25-40 recruited from JPS Psychiatry Clinic System. Outcome measures included the Social and Health History Questionnaire (SHHQ Part 1), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Results: This project was designed to describe a small group of psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with respect to the impact of lifetime trauma on their psychosocial behavior We hypothesized there was a relationship between trauma, depression and aggression. In this study sample however, there was no linear relationship between an individual's history of trauma and their recent self-reported aggression or depression ratings. Conclusions: The clinical significance of our findings indicates that trauma exposure may or may not be associated with co-occurring depression and hostility. Thus, physicians should evaluate all of these dimensions of the whole person in order to determine the next steps in treatment.