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Verrastro V, Cuzzocrea F, Calaresi D, Saladino V. Childhood Emotional Abuse, Neuroticism, Perfectionism, and Workaholism in an Italian Sample of Young Workers. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:298. [PMID: 38667094 PMCID: PMC11047696 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The literature has linked childhood emotional abuse (CEA) to severe negative outcomes such as the development of several maladaptive personality traits and coping mechanisms. Nonetheless, its concurrent connection with neuroticism, perfectionism, and workaholism has not been explored. For the above reasons, the present study sought to investigate whether neuroticism and perfectionism mediate the relationship between CEA and workaholism, as well as evaluate the gender invariance of the model. The sample of the present research comprised 1176 young workers (50% women), aged 18-25, who completed validated self-report questionnaires. The findings highlighted significant positive direct and indirect paths, suggesting a complex interplay between CEA, neuroticism, perfectionism, and workaholism. Furthermore, the model exhibited no significant differences between genders, suggesting that the identified relationships are consistent across both women and men. The findings highlight the importance of identifying CEA and considering the adoption of trauma-informed approaches to manage its adverse effects, thereby potentially averting the onset of workaholism. Moreover, the results underline the necessity for customized preventive measures, aiming to mitigate traits associated with neuroticism and perfectionism as potential paths for successful therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Verrastro
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.V.); (D.C.)
| | - Francesca Cuzzocrea
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.V.); (D.C.)
| | - Danilo Calaresi
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (V.V.); (D.C.)
| | - Valeria Saladino
- Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy;
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2
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Rivera-Bonet CN, Birn RM, Ladd CO, Meyerand ME, Abercrombie HC. Cortisol effects on brain functional connectivity during emotion processing in women with depression. J Affect Disord 2021; 287:247-254. [PMID: 33799044 PMCID: PMC8128282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is associated with altered functional connectivity and altered cortisol sensitivity, but the effects of cortisol on functional connectivity in depression are unknown. Previous research shows that brief cortisol augmentation (CORT) has beneficial neurocognitive effects in depression. METHODS We investigated the effects of CORT (20mg oral cortisol) on functional connectivity during emotion processing in women with depression. Participants included 75 women with no depression or a depressive disorder. In a double-blind, crossover study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure effects of CORT vs. placebo on task-based functional connectivity during presentation of emotionally-laden images. We performed psychophysiological interaction (PPI) to test interactions among depression severity, cortisol administration, and task-dependent functional connectivity using the hippocampus and amygdala as seeds. RESULTS During the presentation of negative images, CORT (vs. placebo) increased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and putamen in association with depression severity. During the presentation of positive pictures CORT increased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and middle frontal gyrus as well as superior temporal gyrus in association with depression. LIMITATIONS Because cortisol was pharmacologically manipulated, results cannot be extrapolated to endogenous increases in cortisol levels. The sample did not permit investigation of differences due to race, ethnicity, or sex. Co-morbidities such as anxiety or PTSD were not accounted for. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that CORT has normalizing effects on task-dependent functional connectivity in women with depression during emotion processing. Increasing cortisol availability or signaling may have therapeutic benefits within affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rasmus M Birn
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Charlotte O Ladd
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Mary E Meyerand
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Heather C Abercrombie
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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3
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Qin Y, Tong X, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Li X, Yang J, Qin K, Lei D, Gong Q, Zhou D, An D. Divergent Anatomical Correlates and Functional Network Connectivity Patterns in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with and Without Depression. Brain Topogr 2021; 34:525-536. [PMID: 33973138 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-021-00848-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy and depression were proposed to facilitate each other reciprocally through common neurobiological anomalies, especially the prefrontal-limbic-subcortical abnormalities. Yet neuroimaging patterns of higher-order cognitive networks and neuroanatomical correlates were rarely compared in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with (TLE-D) and without depression (TLE-N). We collected T1-weighted structural and resting-state functional MRI data from 20 TLE-D, 31 TLE-N and 20 healthy controls (HCs) and performed analyses including hippocampal volume (HCV), cortical thickness, gray matter volume (GMV) and whole-brain functional network connectivity (FNC) across three groups. Imaging differences were related to clinical and psychological measurements. TLE-D demonstrated disrupted functional role of subcortical (SUB) and higher-order cognitive networks compared to TLE-N and HCs. In TLE-D, GMV in the right supplementary motor area (SMA) and FNC between the dorsal attention (DAN) and SUB were attenuated compared to TLE-N and HCs, FNC between SUB and the visual network (VIS) decreased compared to HCs. GMV in the right SMA was negatively correlated with depression severity and some symptoms. Combined, explicit emotion regulation may be impaired in TLE-D. Meanwhile, compared to HCs, TLE-N showed smaller HCVs, TLE-D and TLE-N showed smaller GMV in the medial orbital frontal gyrus and right hippocampus and hippocampal gyrus, possibly implying predisposition of epileptic activities to co-morbid depression. Our findings suggest distinct anatomical and FNC patterns in TLE-D and TLE-N. More than prefrontal-limbic-subcortical anomalies, disrupted higher-order cognitive network may contribute to depression in TLE, providing new potential treatment targets for depression and calling attention to relation between cognitive dysfunction and co-morbid depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Qin
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Tong
- Department of Neurology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Le Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiuli Li
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Kun Qin
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Du Lei
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Dongmei An
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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4
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Salvat-Pujol N, Labad J, Urretavizcaya M, de Arriba-Arnau A, Segalàs C, Real E, Ferrer A, Crespo JM, Jiménez-Murcia S, Soriano-Mas C, Menchón JM, Soria V. Childhood maltreatment interacts with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis negative feedback and major depression: effects on cognitive performance. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2021; 12:1857955. [PMID: 33796230 PMCID: PMC7968873 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1857955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis negative feedback and cognitive dysfunction, resembling those abnormalities linked to major depressive disorder (MDD). Objectives: We aimed to assess the potential modulating effects of MDD diagnosis or HPA axis function in the association between different types of CM and cognitive performance in adulthood. Methods: Sixty-eight MDD patients and 87 healthy controls were recruited. CM was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We obtained three latent variables for neuropsychological performance (verbal memory, visual memory and executive function/processing speed) after running a confirmatory factor analysis with cognitive tests applied. Dexamethasone suppression test ratio (DSTR) was performed using dexamethasone 0.25 mg. Results: Different types of CM had different effects on cognition, modulated by MDD diagnosis and HPA axis function. Individuals with physical maltreatment and MDD presented with enhanced cognition in certain domains. The DSTR differentially modulated the association between visual memory and physical neglect or sexual abuse. Conclusions: HPA axis-related neurobiological mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment might differ depending upon the type of CM. Our results suggest a need for early assessment and intervention on cognition and resilience mechanisms in individuals exposed to CM to minimize its deleterious and lasting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Salvat-Pujol
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Department of Mental Health, I3PT, Sabadell, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Labad
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Department of Mental Health, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Spain
| | - Mikel Urretavizcaya
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aida de Arriba-Arnau
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cinto Segalàs
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Real
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alex Ferrer
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Department of Mental Health, I3PT, Sabadell, Spain
| | - José M Crespo
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - José M Menchón
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Virginia Soria
- Bellvitge University Hospital, Psychiatry Department. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Neurosciences Group - Psychiatry and Mental Health, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Kirlic N, Cohen ZP, Singh MK. Is There an Ace Up Our Sleeve? A Review of Interventions and Strategies for Addressing Behavioral and Neurobiological Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Youth. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2020; 1:5-28. [PMID: 34278327 PMCID: PMC8281391 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-020-00001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early life adversity (ELA) is a major public health crisis posing as a significant risk of immediate and sustained mental and physical health consequences. While a remarkable body of knowledge has been amassed showing psychological, cognitive, social, developmental, and neurobiological consequences of ELA exposure, little has been done to improve the long-term mental and physical health outcomes for youth exposed to ELA. Furthermore, neurobiological processes underlying poor outcomes in this population have been largely left out of prevention and intervention target efforts. In this review, we first describe ELA-related alterations across psychological and neurobiological systems in children and adolescents. Next, we describe existing evidence-based interventions targeting ELA-related outcomes. We then turn to experimental studies examining individual differences in mechanistic functioning consequent to ELA exposure, and strategies that target these mechanisms and modulate disrupted functioning. Finally, we highlight areas of future research that may be promising in engaging behavioral and neurobiological targets through novel preventive interventions or augmentation of existing interventions, thereby reducing negative mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namik Kirlic
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 South Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - Zsofia P. Cohen
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 South Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - Manpreet K. Singh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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6
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Pirnia B, Khosravani V, Maleki F, Kalbasi R, Pirnia K, Malekanmehr P, Zahiroddin A. The role of childhood maltreatment in cortisol in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in methamphetamine-dependent individuals with and without depression comorbidity and suicide attempts. J Affect Disord 2020; 263:274-281. [PMID: 31818789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation which was found to have an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, suicide, and substance dependence, may be influenced by childhood maltreatment (CM). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between CM and cortisol changes in methamphetamine-dependent individuals. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, methamphetamine-dependent individuals (n = =195) with or without both comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and a history of suicide attempts were selected and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). To assess cortisol levels, saliva samples were collected at six time intervals for two consecutive days. RESULTS A history of CM significantly predicted wake-up cortisol level, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and diurnal cortisol slope. Methamphetamine-dependent individuals with both MDD and lifetime suicide attempts had higher CM and higher cortisol levels with a blunted diurnal cortisol slope than individuals who were merely methamphetamine-dependent. Individuals with high CM showed higher cortisol levels with a blunted diurnal slope than those with low or without CM. LIMITATIONS Cross-sectional data and use of self-report scales, especially retrospective measurements (e.g., the CTQ-SF), were important limitations of this study. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that methamphetamine-dependent individuals with adverse psychological factors such as CM, MDD, and suicide attempts may show dysregulation in biological factors including cortisol level. In addition, CM and its effects on cortisol in the HPA axis may emerge as important factors regarding psychopathological use of methamphetamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijan Pirnia
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran; Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Vahid Khosravani
- Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Faezeh Maleki
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Rozita Kalbasi
- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Kish International Branch, Kish Island, Iran
| | - Kambiz Pirnia
- Internal disease specialist, Technical Assistant in Bijan Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parastoo Malekanmehr
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Alireza Zahiroddin
- Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Ubuka T, Trudeau VL, Parhar I. Editorial: Steroids and the Brain. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:366. [PMID: 32582033 PMCID: PMC7283457 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Takayoshi Ubuka
- Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Takayoshi Ubuka
| | | | - Ishwar Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
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8
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Lippard ET, Nemeroff CB. The Devastating Clinical Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect: Increased Disease Vulnerability and Poor Treatment Response in Mood Disorders. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:20-36. [PMID: 31537091 PMCID: PMC6939135 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A large body of evidence has demonstrated that exposure to childhood maltreatment at any stage of development can have long-lasting consequences. It is associated with a marked increase in risk for psychiatric and medical disorders. This review summarizes the literature investigating the effects of childhood maltreatment on disease vulnerability for mood disorders, specifically summarizing cross-sectional and more recent longitudinal studies demonstrating that childhood maltreatment is more prevalent and is associated with increased risk for first mood episode, episode recurrence, greater comorbidities, and increased risk for suicidal ideation and attempts in individuals with mood disorders. It summarizes the persistent alterations associated with childhood maltreatment, including alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to disease vulnerability and a more pernicious disease course. The authors discuss several candidate genes and environmental factors (for example, substance use) that may alter disease vulnerability and illness course and neurobiological associations that may mediate these relationships following childhood maltreatment. Studies provide insight into modifiable mechanisms and provide direction to improve both treatment and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T.C. Lippard
- Department of Psychiatry, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA,Institute of Early Life Adversity Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX USA,Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA,Mulva Clinic for Neuroscience, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX
| | - Charles B. Nemeroff
- Department of Psychiatry, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA,Institute of Early Life Adversity Research, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX USA,Mulva Clinic for Neuroscience, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX
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9
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Perry RE, Rincón-Cortés M, Braren SH, Brandes-Aitken AN, Opendak M, Pollonini G, Chopra D, Raver CC, Alberini CM, Blair C, Sullivan RM. Corticosterone administration targeting a hypo-reactive HPA axis rescues a socially-avoidant phenotype in scarcity-adversity reared rats. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2019; 40:100716. [PMID: 31704654 PMCID: PMC6939642 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well-established that children from low-income, under-resourced families are at increased risk of altered social development. However, the biological mechanisms by which poverty-related adversities can “get under the skin” to influence social behavior are poorly understood and cannot be easily ascertained using human research alone. This study utilized a rodent model of “scarcity-adversity,” which encompasses material resource deprivation (scarcity) and reduced caregiving quality (adversity), to explore how early-life scarcity-adversity causally influences social behavior via disruption of developing stress physiology. Results showed that early-life scarcity-adversity exposure increased social avoidance when offspring were tested in a social approach test in peri-adolescence. Furthermore, early-life scarcity-adversity led to blunted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity as measured via adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) reactivity following the social approach test. Western blot analysis of brain tissue revealed that glucocorticoid receptor levels in the dorsal (but not ventral) hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex were significantly elevated in scarcity-adversity reared rats following the social approach test. Finally, pharmacological repletion of CORT in scarcity-adversity reared peri-adolescents rescued social behavior. Our findings provide causal support that early-life scarcity-adversity exposure negatively impacts social development via a hypocorticosteronism-dependent mechanism, which can be targeted via CORT administration to rescue social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemarie E Perry
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 627 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Millie Rincón-Cortés
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute & Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 1 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Stephen H Braren
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 627 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Annie N Brandes-Aitken
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 627 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Maya Opendak
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute & Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 1 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Gabriella Pollonini
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| | - Divija Chopra
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 627 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - C Cybele Raver
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 627 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Cristina M Alberini
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| | - Clancy Blair
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, 627 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Regina M Sullivan
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute & Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 1 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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10
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Too Much Is Still Not Enough, When Talking About Cortisol. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2019; 3:207-208. [PMID: 29486860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Alterations in Systemic and Cognitive Glucocorticoid Sensitivity in Depression. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2018; 4:310-320. [PMID: 30686583 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of research point to cortisol insensitivity as a biomarker of depression. Despite a vast literature on cortisol's effects on memory, the role of cortisol insensitivity in core psychological features of depression, such as emotional memory biases, is unknown. METHODS Sixty-five premenopausal women with varying levels of depression completed this study involving an at-home low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and four experimental sessions (i.e., two visits for memory encoding of emotionally arousing pictures, each of which was followed 48 hours later by a recall test). Participants received 20 mg of oral cortisol (CORT) or placebo prior to encoding. We tested whether systemic cortisol insensitivity measured with the dexamethasone suppression test predicted cognitive sensitivity to CORT, which was operationalized as the change in negatively biased memory formation for pictures encoded following CORT versus placebo administration. RESULTS Cortisol insensitivity was associated with more severe depression and flatter diurnal cortisol levels. Cortisol insensitivity predicted negative memory bias for pictures encoded during the placebo session and reduction in negative memory bias for pictures encoded during the CORT (compared with placebo) session, even after accounting for psychiatric symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS Our findings replicate research showing that cortisol insensitivity predicts depression severity and flatter diurnal cortisol levels. The results further suggest that systemic cortisol insensitivity is related to negative memory bias and its alleviation by cortisol administration. These novel cognitive findings tie together knowledge regarding endocrine and psychological dysfunction in depression and suggest that boosting cortisol signal may cognitively benefit individuals with cortisol insensitivity.
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Frost CP, Meyerand ME, Birn RM, Hoks RM, Walsh EC, Abercrombie HC. Childhood Emotional Abuse Moderates Associations Among Corticomotor White Matter Structure and Stress Neuromodulators in Women With and Without Depression. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:256. [PMID: 29740273 PMCID: PMC5925965 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Adverse caregiving during development can produce long-lasting changes to neural, endocrine, and behavioral responses to stress, and is strongly related to elevated risk of adult psychopathology. While prior experience of adversity is associated with altered sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, the underlying neural pathways are not completely understood. In a double-blind crossover study, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine whether variation in white matter structure predicts differences in HPA-SNS interactions as a function of early adversity. Participants included 74 women who exhibited a wide range of depression severity and/or childhood emotional abuse (EA). Participants attended two experimental sessions during which they were administered 20 mg cortisol (CORT) or placebo and after 90 min, viewed emotionally laden pictures while undergoing MRI scanning. Immediately after emotional picture-viewing, we collected salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) to index SNS activation. We tested whether EA moderated the relation between fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter fiber structure, and sAA. In the placebo condition, for participants with minimal history of EA, higher FA in corticomotor projections was negatively correlated with sAA, whereas in participants with severe EA, the correlation was trending in the opposite direction. Following CORT administration, FA and sAA were not related, suggesting that SNS tone during acute cortisol elevation may depend on neural pathways other than corticomotor projections. The results suggest that at baseline—though not during cortisol elevation—increased FA in these tracts is associated with lower levels of SNS activity in women with minimal EA, but not in women with severe EA. These findings provide evidence that corticomotor projections may be a key component of altered neural circuitry in adults with history of maltreatment, and may be related to alterations in stress neuromodulators in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlton P Frost
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - M Elizabeth Meyerand
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Rasmus M Birn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Roxanne M Hoks
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Erin C Walsh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Heather C Abercrombie
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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