Mapping behavioural mechanisms linking childhood maltreatment, cognition, impulsivity, and suicidality in bipolar disorder: A network approach

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been consistently associated with increased risk and poorer outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD). However, the behavioural and cognitive mechanisms linking CM and suicidality remain poorly understood, limiting the development of targeted preventive interventions. We estimated a regularised partial correlation network to explore the interplay between CM subtypes (emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; emotional and physical neglect), cognitive domains (attention/processing speed, executive function/working memory, socio-emotional cognition, decision-making), impulsivity traits (attentional, motor, non-planning), and suicidal behaviours (ideation, planning, attempts) in 249 euthymic individuals with BD (mean age = 46.14, SD = 8.60; 59.84% female; 71.89% BD type I). CM was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), cognition with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and suicidality with the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and structured interview. Age, sex, and social desirability (CTQ minimisation/denial subscale) were included as covariates. CM was associated with both cognitive functioning (poorer executive function and working memory, attention/processing speed, and socio-emotional cognition) and suicidality (suicidal ideation and, to a lesser extent, suicide attempts). Emotional abuse was linked to suicidal ideation (strongest association among CM subtypes; r = 0.27, p <0.001) and showed the highest centrality within the network (strength z = 1.76; expected influence z = 1.95). All CM subtypes were associated with impulsivity traits. Motor impulsivity emerged as a behavioural bridge between CM and suicidality (bridge expected influence z = 0.21), whereas higher socio-emotional cognition, particularly the ability to manage emotions, was associated with fewer suicide attempts. These findings highlight specific cognitive and behavioural mechanisms linking CM and suicidality in BD. Emotional abuse and socio-emotional cognition represent promising targets for trauma-informed and personalised interventions.