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. 2025 Jun;22(6):620-631.
doi: 10.30773/pi.2024.0247. Epub 2025 Jun 16.

Exploring the Correlation of Childhood Trauma With the Behavioral Activation and Inhibition System in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar I and II Disorders

Yoonjeong Jang  1   2 , Sarah Soonji Kwon  1 , Hyeona Yu  1 , Daseul Lee  1 , Joohyun Yoon  1 , Chan Woo Lee  1 , Yun Seong Park  1 , Hyun A Ryoo  1 , Yejin Park  1 , Hyuk Joon Lee  1 , Yeong Chan Lee  3 , Hong-Hee Won  3 , Tae Hyon Ha  1   4 , Woojae Myung  1   4
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Exploring the Correlation of Childhood Trauma With the Behavioral Activation and Inhibition System in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar I and II Disorders

Yoonjeong Jang et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Studies examining the relationship between the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), behavioral activation system (BAS), and mood disorders in individuals who have experienced childhood trauma remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the associations between childhood trauma, the BIS/BAS, and mood disorders.

Methods: This study included 1,026 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n=338), bipolar I disorder (BD-I, n=152), bipolar II disorder (BD-II, n=536), and 734 comparisons. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) and BIS/BAS scale were used for evaluation.

Results: Differences in the CTQ and BIS/BAS scores among the patient and comparison groups were examined. Patients in the BD-II group had significantly higher total BIS scores than those in the comparison, MDD, and BD-I groups. Patients with BD-I had significantly higher total BAS scores than those with MDD. The CTQ and total BIS scores were positively correlated, and the total BIS scores showed a significant correlation with emotional neglect and emotional abuse subscale scores. In contrast, no correlation was observed between the CTQ and total BAS scores or between MDD and the total BIS/BAS scores.

Conclusion: Differences in childhood trauma and behavioral patterns were observed based on mood disorders. Hence, this study provides valuable insights for future studies on how childhood trauma affects the BIS/BAS in various mental disorders.

Keywords: Behavior mechanisms; Bipolar I disorder; Bipolar II disorder; Childhood trauma; Major depressive disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Violin plots for the distribution of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral approach system (BAS) according to the groups. *p<0.005; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Partial correlation plot between Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) scores, behavioral inhibition system (BIS), and behavioral approach system (BAS) scores. Partial correlation coefficients (p<0.05) are shown in the figure, and marked as X. Positive and negative correlations are shown in blue and red colors, respectively. The size of the blue or red color circle indicates the degree of correlation. Color intensity is proportional to the partial correlation coefficients. A: All participants (N=1,760). B: Comparison group (N=734). C: All patients (N=1,026). D: Major depressive disorder (N=338). E: Bipolar I disorder (N=152). F: Bipolar II disorder (N=536).
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