Aim: Childhood trauma has a crucial and proved role for the development of psychopathology during adulthood. The results of a systematic review on the instruments for the retrospective assessment of childhood trauma are reported in order to compare their reliability, validity, comprehensiveness and use.
Methods: A literature search on this argument was conducted on Medline electronic archives and by canvassing English-language and other European languages publications. Eligible instruments were restricted to the ones with: available publications, retrospective assessment on adult population, independence from specific diagnostic categories, sufficient data regarding the main features.
Results: Of the 19 eligible instruments, the Familial Experiences Interview (FEI) and the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report (ETI-SR) evaluate the highest number of "trauma areas" considered in this review. The reliability and validity data provided by Authors, when available, are reported to be good to excellent. The four most used instruments in the clinical and epidemiological practice appear to be the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse (CECA.Q) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).
Discussion: Our review on the currently available instruments has pointed out some weaknesses that narrow their actual use and evaluation capability. Such issues should be taken in consideration and further discussed especially considering the increasing consent of research on the role of childhood trauma for the development of adult psychopathology.