Childhood illnesses as risk indicators of adult mental health symptomatology.

Background: Links between childhood illnesses such as acne and migraines and co-occurring or subsequent mental health symptomatology are not well understood. Early medical histories have seldom been examined as adversity risk indicators.

Participants and procedure: This survey analysis of college students (N = 2,636) examined links between four forms of childhood illness (migraine headaches, acne, asthma, and enuresis) and adult mental health symptomatology.

Results: Four medical conditions often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence were prevalent enough in the college sample to test as risk indicators for lifetime mental health concerns. All four medical illnesses significantly raised the odds (ORM = 2.04) of lifetime depressive and anxiety disorder diagnoses. Current symptomatology was also raised for all but one (enuresis) medical condition. These effects were found after controlling for respondent age and various forms of childhood maltreatment (sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse).

Conclusions: Heightened awareness of medical histories during clinical intake assessments seems warranted. Adversity researchers might also consider the inclusion of childhood medical conditions as future maladjustment risk indicators. Study limitations included the cross-sectional design and unclearly specified timing of the self-reported psychological and health recollections. The role of modulating variables such as gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and family climate in physical-mental health relationships warrants continued focus.