Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40069631›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2025

Mediation by elevated prolactin in the relationship between childhood trauma and first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia.

Yuqian Pan, Leijun Li, Xiaowei Xia, Zhinan Li, Jiamin Dai, Junyan Wu, Tong Liu, Ming Chen, Junxiao Ma, Yanxi Liu and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Yuqian Pan *Department of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Leijun Li *Department of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Xiaowei XiaDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Zhinan LiDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Jiamin DaiGuangdong Mental Health Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Junyan WuDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Tong LiuDepartment of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
Ming ChenGuangdong Mental Health Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Junxiao MaDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Yanxi LiuDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Ziyi ZhangDepartment of Medical Division, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Qingni ShenDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Sichu TaoDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Zixin DengDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Shimao KangDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Kexin ZhangDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
Xiaobing ZouChild Developmental and Behavioral Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China. zouxb@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Jihui WangDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China. jonny928@126.com.
Qinling WeiDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, China. weiql@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81771442National Natural Science Foundation of China-Guangdong Joint Fund 2022A1515010636the Science and Technology Plan Project of Guangzhou 2023A03J0206
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe elevated prolactin levels in first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia patients may correlate with long-term stress caused by childhood trauma. This study aimed to assess the relationship between elevated prolactin levels and childhood trauma in FEDN schizophrenia patients, while also considering sex differences.

methodsUtilizing a cross-sectional design, the study involved 88 FEDN schizophrenia patients and 76 healthy controls (HCs). Evaluations encompassed measuring prolactin levels in peripheral blood and assessing mental health using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), as well as evaluating resilience with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), perceived social support with the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and demographic characteristics to control for confounding factors. A mediation model was constructed using the RMediation package of the R software.

methodsThe results suggested prolactin levels in FEDN schizophrenia patients were higher than in HCs(t=-9.938, p = 0.000). Group classification (HCs vs. FEDN schizophrenia patients) (t = 9.291, p = 0.000) and sex (t = 3.282, p = 0.001) were influential factors for prolactin levels. Elevated prolactin(OR = 1.007, p = 0.000), along with higher scores for childhood emotional(OR = 1.469, p = 0.006)andsexual abuse(OR = 1.592, p = 0.018) and lower social support(OR = 0.946, p = 0.026), were associated with the onset of schizophrenia. Positive correlations were found between prolactin levels and childhood emotional (r = 0.268, p = 0.002) /sexual abuse(r = 0.264, p = 0.002), with no sex differences. No significant relationship was observed between prolactin levels and PANSS scores. Mediation analysis revealed that childhood emotional abuse (95% CI: [0.059 ~ 0.293]) and sexual abuse (95% CI: [0.086 ~ 0.439]) had significant indirect effects on schizophrenia, mediated by elevated prolactin levels.

conclusionThese findings suggest that childhood trauma may be associated with the onset of schizophrenia by influencing prolactin levels, highlighting the complex interplay between hormonal disruptions and early-life stress in the development of schizophrenia.

Indexed as

Adverse Childhood ExperiencesProlactinSchizophreniaAdultCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleResilience, PsychologicalSex FactorsSocial SupportYoung AdultProlactinChildhood traumaEmotional abuseFEDN schizophrenia patientsProlactinSexual abuse

Identifiers

PMID40069631
PMCPMC11900333

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