PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Karine Eid
AU  - Øivind Torkildsen
AU  - Jan Aarseth
AU  - Mari Aalstad
AU  - Alok Bhan
AU  - Elisabeth G Celius
AU  - Marianna Cortese
AU  - Anne Kjersti Daltveit
AU  - Trygve Holmøy
AU  - Kjell-Morten Myhr
AU  - Trond Riise
AU  - Stephan Schüler
AU  - Cecilie F Torkildsen
AU  - Stig Wergeland
AU  - Nils Erik Gilhus
AU  - Marte-Helene Bjørk
TI  - Association of adverse childhood experiences with the development of multiple sclerosis
AID  - 10.1136/jnnp-2021-328700
DP  - 2022 Jun 01
TA  - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
PG  - 645--650
VI  - 93
IP  - 6
4099  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/6/645.short
4100  - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/6/645.full
SO  - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2022 Jun 01; 93
AB  - Objective To study whether exposure to childhood emotional, sexual or physical abuse is associated with subsequent multiple sclerosis (MS) development.Methods A nationwide, prospective cohort study based on participants in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child cohort study. Enrolment took place 1999–2008, with follow-up until 31 December 2018. Childhood abuse before age 18 years was obtained from self-completed questionnaires. We identified MS diagnoses through data-linkage with national health registries and hospital records. The Cox model was used to estimate HRs for MS with 95% CIs, adjusting for confounders and mediators.Results In this prospective cohort study, 14 477 women were exposed to childhood abuse and 63 520 were unexposed. 300 women developed MS during the follow-up period. 71 of these (24%) reported a history of childhood abuse, compared with 14 406 of 77 697 (19%) women that did not develop MS. Sexual abuse (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.39) and emotional abuse (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.90) in childhood were both associated with an increased risk of developing MS. The HR of MS after exposure to physical abuse was 1.31 (95% CI 0.83 to 2.06). The risk of MS was further increased if exposed to two (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.67) or all three abuse categories (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.67).Interpretation Childhood sexual and emotional abuse were associated with an increased risk of developing MS. The risk was higher when exposed to several abuse categories, indicating a dose–response relationship. Further studies are needed to identify underlying mechanisms.Data may be obtained from a third party and are not publicly available. Enquiries regarding access to data from MoBa and the MBRN can be directed to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Data from the MSR are accessible for researchers by application (http://norskmsregister.no).