The risk of common mental disorders in Indigenous Australians experiencing traumatic life events

Bushra Farah Nasir; Elizabeth G. Ryan; Emma B. Black; Stephen Kisely; Neeraj S. Gill; Gavin Beccaria; Srinivas Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan; Geoffrey C. Nicholson; Maree Toombs

doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.1063

The risk of common mental disorders in Indigenous Australians experiencing traumatic life events

Bushra Farah Nasir, Elizabeth G. Ryan, Emma B. Black, Stephen Kisely, Neeraj S. Gill, Gavin Beccaria, Srinivas Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Geoffrey C. Nicholson, Maree Toombs

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Abstract

Background

Experiencing traumatic life events is associated with an increased risk of common mental disorders (CMDs), but studies investigating this association within Indigenous populations are limited.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between trauma and CMDs after controlling for other exposures. Method Trauma exposures and CMD diagnoses were determined in a broadly representative sample of 544 Indigenous Australians, using a diagnostic clinical interview. Associations were determined by multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Trauma exposure independently predicted CMDs. After adjustment for potential confounders, trauma exposure was associated with a 4.01-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a CMD in the past 12 months. The increased risks were 4.38-, 2.65- A nd 2.78-fold of having an anxiety disorder, mood disorder or a substance use disorder, respectively. Trauma exposure and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with a 4.53-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a mood disorder, 2.47-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, and 3.58-fold increased risk of any diagnosis of a CMD, in the past 12 months. Experiencing both sexual and physical violence was associated with a 4.98-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder in the past 12 months.

Conclusions

Indigenous Australians experience significantly increased exposure to potentially harmful trauma compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Preventing and healing trauma exposure is paramount to reduce the high burden of CMDs in this population.

Original language	English
Article number	e8
Pages (from-to)	1-7
Number of pages	7
Journal	BJPsych Open
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1063
Publication status	Published - 6 Jan 2022
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (project grant 1061963). The study funder had no role in the study design, planning, data collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript or decision to submit this manuscript for publication.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1192/bjo.2021.1063

55799051-oaFinal published version, 363 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "The risk of common mental disorders in Indigenous Australians experiencing traumatic life events",

abstract = "Background Experiencing traumatic life events is associated with an increased risk of common mental disorders (CMDs), but studies investigating this association within Indigenous populations are limited. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate associations between trauma and CMDs after controlling for other exposures. Method Trauma exposures and CMD diagnoses were determined in a broadly representative sample of 544 Indigenous Australians, using a diagnostic clinical interview. Associations were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Results Trauma exposure independently predicted CMDs. After adjustment for potential confounders, trauma exposure was associated with a 4.01-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a CMD in the past 12 months. The increased risks were 4.38-, 2.65- A nd 2.78-fold of having an anxiety disorder, mood disorder or a substance use disorder, respectively. Trauma exposure and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with a 4.53-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a mood disorder, 2.47-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, and 3.58-fold increased risk of any diagnosis of a CMD, in the past 12 months. Experiencing both sexual and physical violence was associated with a 4.98-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder in the past 12 months. Conclusions Indigenous Australians experience significantly increased exposure to potentially harmful trauma compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Preventing and healing trauma exposure is paramount to reduce the high burden of CMDs in this population. ",

keywords = "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, common mental disorders, Indigenous Australians, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, trauma",

author = "Nasir, {Bushra Farah} and Ryan, {Elizabeth G.} and Black, {Emma B.} and Stephen Kisely and Gill, {Neeraj S.} and Gavin Beccaria and Srinivas Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan and Nicholson, {Geoffrey C.} and Maree Toombs",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (project grant 1061963). The study funder had no role in the study design, planning, data collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript or decision to submit this manuscript for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s). Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

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doi = "10.1192/bjo.2021.1063",

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AU - Nasir, Bushra Farah

AU - Ryan, Elizabeth G.

AU - Black, Emma B.

AU - Kisely, Stephen

AU - Gill, Neeraj S.

AU - Beccaria, Gavin

AU - Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, Srinivas

AU - Nicholson, Geoffrey C.

AU - Toombs, Maree

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (project grant 1061963). The study funder had no role in the study design, planning, data collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript or decision to submit this manuscript for publication. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

PY - 2022/1/6

Y1 - 2022/1/6

N2 - Background Experiencing traumatic life events is associated with an increased risk of common mental disorders (CMDs), but studies investigating this association within Indigenous populations are limited. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate associations between trauma and CMDs after controlling for other exposures. Method Trauma exposures and CMD diagnoses were determined in a broadly representative sample of 544 Indigenous Australians, using a diagnostic clinical interview. Associations were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Results Trauma exposure independently predicted CMDs. After adjustment for potential confounders, trauma exposure was associated with a 4.01-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a CMD in the past 12 months. The increased risks were 4.38-, 2.65- A nd 2.78-fold of having an anxiety disorder, mood disorder or a substance use disorder, respectively. Trauma exposure and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with a 4.53-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a mood disorder, 2.47-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, and 3.58-fold increased risk of any diagnosis of a CMD, in the past 12 months. Experiencing both sexual and physical violence was associated with a 4.98-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder in the past 12 months. Conclusions Indigenous Australians experience significantly increased exposure to potentially harmful trauma compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Preventing and healing trauma exposure is paramount to reduce the high burden of CMDs in this population.

AB - Background Experiencing traumatic life events is associated with an increased risk of common mental disorders (CMDs), but studies investigating this association within Indigenous populations are limited. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate associations between trauma and CMDs after controlling for other exposures. Method Trauma exposures and CMD diagnoses were determined in a broadly representative sample of 544 Indigenous Australians, using a diagnostic clinical interview. Associations were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Results Trauma exposure independently predicted CMDs. After adjustment for potential confounders, trauma exposure was associated with a 4.01-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a CMD in the past 12 months. The increased risks were 4.38-, 2.65- A nd 2.78-fold of having an anxiety disorder, mood disorder or a substance use disorder, respectively. Trauma exposure and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with a 4.53-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a mood disorder, 2.47-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, and 3.58-fold increased risk of any diagnosis of a CMD, in the past 12 months. Experiencing both sexual and physical violence was associated with a 4.98-fold increased risk of a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder in the past 12 months. Conclusions Indigenous Australians experience significantly increased exposure to potentially harmful trauma compared with non-Indigenous Australians. Preventing and healing trauma exposure is paramount to reduce the high burden of CMDs in this population.

KW - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

KW - common mental disorders

KW - Indigenous Australians

KW - Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders

KW - trauma

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SN - 2056-4724

VL - 8

SP - 1

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JO - BJPsych Open

JF - BJPsych Open

IS - 1

M1 - e8

ER -

The risk of common mental disorders in Indigenous Australians experiencing traumatic life events

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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