B4067 - Adverse Childhood Experiences and the onset of mental health symptom stages - 27/05/2022
B number:
B4067
Principal applicant name:
Aswin Ratheesh | Orygen and The University of Melbourne (Australia)
Co-applicants:
Ms Yufan Chan
Title of project:
Adverse Childhood Experiences and the onset of mental health symptom stages
Proposal summary:
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, threaten individuals’ life-long
well-being. A growing body of research has supported ACEs’ negative influence on long-term
mental health; however, many existing studies measured ACEs by retrospective self-report, that
is, by adults recalling their childhood experiences. However, there is a need to study
prospectively followed cohorts in order to minimise biases in participant selection and
measurement of ACEs. Examining the impact of ACEs on symptom outcomes conceptualised as
stages could help improve our understanding of the staging model in psychiatry. Therefore, this project proposes to explore the prospective impact of ACEs on the progressive stages of mental disorders in adulthood,
Impact of research:
This project would provide evidence of ACEs’ prospective impact on adulthood mental
health. It would the inform the general public, especially families with children and child
protection agencies, of risk and protective factors of the progression of mental disorders.
Potential findings would also inform intervention programs; development, protecting children experiencing adverse events from suffering life-long harm.
Date proposal received:
Wednesday, 25 May, 2022
Date proposal approved:
Friday, 27 May, 2022
Keywords:
Epidemiology, Mental health, Statistical methods, Symptoms, stages, onset