Perceived life burdens of early maltreatment and complex and severe depression: Using the early maltreatment & caring experiences questionnaire in clinical practice

Abstract

Background

Early maltreatment experiences (EME) are linked to complex and severe depression, but outcome variability suggests mechanisms beyond exposure.

Objective

To examine perceived life burdens (PLB; enduring difficulties attributed to EME) as a mechanism linking EME to complex and severe depression.

Participants and setting

Cross-sectional sample of 271 adults with major depression disorder at their first outpatient mental health consultation.

Methods

EME, PLB, and early caring experiences (ECE) were assessed with the Early Maltreatment & Caring Experiences (EMCE) questionnaire. Complex and severe depression was defined as PHQ-9 ≥ 20 plus ≥1 clinical complexity marker (early onset, recurrence, psychotic features, suicidality, or family history). Logistic regression, mediation, and moderation analyses examined associations among EME, PLB, adaptive coping, and complex and severe depression, adjusting for ECE. Incremental predictive value of PLB was tested with hierarchical.

Results

PLB was associated with complex and severe depression (OR 1.69 [95 % CI 1.23–2.32). PLB partially mediated the EME–complex and severe depression association (indirect effect 23.4 % [95 % CI 14.5–83.5 %]). Adaptive coping moderated the EME–PLB association (interaction OR 0.96 [95 % CI 0.92–0.99]), attenuating PLB at higher adaptive coping, but did not significantly moderate associations with complex and severe depression. Adding PLB improved fit, and PLB remained independently associated with complex and severe depression.

Conclusions

PLB reflects the subjective burden of EME, improves prediction of complex and severe depression beyond EME and ECE, and is moderated by adaptive coping. Findings support incorporating PLB into trauma-informed assessment.