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Nyström-Hansen M, Andersen MS, Davidsen KA, Roehder K, Trier C, Nayberg E, Lyons-Ruth K, Harder S. Hair cortisol concentrations in pregnant women with bipolar, depressive, or schizophrenic spectrum disorders. Arch Womens Ment Health 2024; 27:577-584. [PMID: 38308143 PMCID: PMC11231011 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01434-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Maternal cortisol levels in pregnancy may support the growth of or adversely affect fetal organs, including the brain. While moderate cortisol levels are essential for fetal development, excessive or prolonged elevations may have negative health consequences for both the mother and the offspring. Little is known about predictors of altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity during pregnancy. This study examined maternal hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in relation to severe psychopathology. METHODS Hair samples were collected from 69 women, 32 with a lifetime diagnosis of severe mental disorders (bipolar I or II disorder, moderate or severe depressive disorder, schizophrenic spectrum disorder), and 37 non-clinical controls. Hair samples were collected during the 3rd trimester, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for cortisol assessment. Psychiatric diagnosis and current level of symptomatic functioning were assessed using the structured clinical interview from the DSM-5 and the global assessment of functioning scale. RESULTS Women with a lifetime diagnosis of severe mental illness had significantly elevated HCC compared to controls. Poorer current symptomatic functioning was also significantly associated with elevated HCC in pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS The implications of alterations in HCC on both maternal and infant health need further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Nyström-Hansen
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Kirstine Agnete Davidsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit, Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Odense, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Katrine Roehder
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christopher Trier
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emilie Nayberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karlen Lyons-Ruth
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, USA
| | - Susanne Harder
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
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2
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Brunton R. Childhood abuse and perinatal outcomes for mother and child: A systematic review of the literature. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302354. [PMID: 38787894 PMCID: PMC11125509 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Childhood abuse can have long-term adverse outcomes in adulthood. These outcomes may pose a particular threat to the health and well-being of perinatal women; however, to date, this body of knowledge has not been systematically collated and synthesized. This systematic review examined the child abuse literature and a broad range of perinatal outcomes using a comprehensive search strategy. The aim of this review was to provide a clearer understanding of the distinct effect of different abuse types and areas where there may be gaps in our knowledge. Following PRISMA guidelines, EBSCO, PsychInfo, Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases and gray literature including preprints, dissertations and theses were searched for literature where childhood abuse was associated with any adverse perinatal outcome between 1969 and 2022. Exclusion criteria included adolescent samples, abuse examined as a composite variable, editorials, letters to the editor, qualitative studies, reviews, meta-analyses, or book chapters. Using an assessment tool, two reviewers extracted and assessed the methodological quality and risk of bias of each study. From an initial 12,384 articles, 95 studies were selected, and the outcomes were categorized as pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal for the mother, and perinatal for mother and child. The prevalence of childhood abuse ranged from 5-25% with wide variability (physical 2-78%, sexual 2-47%, and emotional/psychological 2-69%). Despite some consistent findings relating to psychological outcomes (i.e., depression and PTSD), most evidence was inconclusive, effect sizes were small, or the findings based on a limited number of studies. Inconsistencies in findings stem from small sample sizes and differing methodologies, and their diversity meant studies were not suitable for a meta-analysis. Research implication include the need for more rigorous methodology and research in countries where the prevalence of abuse may be high. Policy implications include the need for trauma-informed care with the Multi-level Determinants of Perinatal Wellbeing for Child Abuse Survivors model a useful framework. This review highlights the possible impacts of childhood abuse on perinatal women and their offspring and areas of further investigation. This review was registered with PROSPERO in 2021 and funded by an internal grant from Charles Sturt University.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Brunton
- School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst Campus, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
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3
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George J, Muzik M, Townsel C. Placental Cortisol Dysregulation in Mothers with Experiences of Childhood Adversity: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2020. [PMID: 38610785 PMCID: PMC11012865 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are extremely prevalent in the United States population. Although ACEs occurs in childhood, exposure to them has been associated with adverse future pregnancy outcomes and an increased risk of poorer social determinants of health, which further drive the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. In addition, maternal ACE exposure has been linked to poor infant and child outcomes, highlighting the intergenerational transmission of risk from mother to child. While alterations along the Maternal-Placental-Fetal Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is hypothesized to be involved, the exact biological pathway underlying this intergenerational passage of risk is mostly unknown. This present work will highlight what is known about pregnancy-related stress hormone physiology, discuss the potential mechanisms of action of ACEs on cortisol regulation, and suggest opportunities for further clinical and translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua George
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maria Muzik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Courtney Townsel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 20742, USA;
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Ormsby SM, Dahlen HG, Smith CA. Investigation of Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis and Oxytocinergic System Changes in a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial of Acupuncture for Antenatal Depression. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 2024; 30:173-184. [PMID: 37566543 DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Antenatal depression is common and associated with detrimental impacts on women and their families. Disrupted neuroendocrine functioning is reported in women experiencing perinatal mental health disturbances. Preliminary randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence suggests acupuncture may provide a safe and effective adjunct treatment; however, underlying mechanisms of effect are unclear. We conducted an RCT examination of acupuncture for the management of antenatal depressive symptomologies, which included oxytocinergic and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis system evaluations. This article reports postintervention changes to cortisol: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) ratios, and oxytocin (OT) hormone concentrations. Methods: Fifty-seven women with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores ≥13 were randomized to receive individually tailored depressed specific acupuncture, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) attention comparator, or treatment as usual (TAU). Weekly 1-h sessions were conducted for 8 weeks (24-31 of pregnancy). Preintervention and postintervention saliva samples were collected. Results: Postintervention mean cortisol: DHEA ratio differences were not significantly predicted by group allocation (n = 46, p = 0.065). Two-group comparisons demonstrated cortisol: DHEA ratios were significantly increased and predicted by group allocation when acupuncture was compared to TAU (p = 0.039); however, not between acupuncture and PMR (p = 0.179), or PMR and TAU (p = 0.421). Postintervention OT concentrations were not significantly predicted by group allocation. Limitations: Small sample size and posthoc analysis Conclusion: Findings suggest positive regulation of the HPA axis may be an underlying mechanism by which acupuncture provided the significant improvements to antenatal depression, stress, and distress observed in this cohort. Trial Registration: Registered on March 19, 2015, with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615000250538).
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone M Ormsby
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Hannah G Dahlen
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Caroline A Smith
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
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Hantsoo L, Jagodnik KM, Novick AM, Baweja R, di Scalea TL, Ozerdem A, McGlade EC, Simeonova DI, Dekel S, Kornfield SL, Nazareth M, Weiss SJ. The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depression across the female reproductive lifecycle: current knowledge and future directions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1295261. [PMID: 38149098 PMCID: PMC10750128 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this narrative review is to consolidate knowledge on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression pathophysiology at different reproductive stages across the female lifespan. Despite growing evidence about the impact of gonadal hormones on mood disorders, no previous review has examined the interaction between such hormonal changes and the HPA axis within the context of depressive disorders in women. We will focus on HPA axis function in depressive disorders at different reproductive stages including the menstrual cycle (e.g., premenstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD]), perinatally (e.g., postpartum depression), and in perimenopausal depression. Each of these reproductive stages is characterized by vast physiological changes and presents major neuroendocrine reorganization. The HPA axis is one of the main targets of such functional alterations, and with its key role in stress response, it is an etiological factor in vulnerable windows for depression across the female lifespan. We begin with an overview of the HPA axis and a brief summary of techniques for measuring HPA axis parameters. We then describe the hormonal milieu of each of these key reproductive stages, and integrate information about HPA axis function in depression across these reproductive stages, describing similarities and differences. The role of a history of stress and trauma exposure as a contributor to female depression in the context of HPA axis involvement across the reproductive stages is also presented. This review advances the pursuit of understanding common biological mechanisms across depressive disorders among women. Our overarching goal is to identify unmet needs in characterizing stress-related markers of depression in women in the context of hormonal changes across the lifespan, and to support future research in women's mental health as it pertains to pathophysiology, early diagnosis, and treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Hantsoo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Jagodnik
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrew M. Novick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Ritika Baweja
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State Health, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Health, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Teresa Lanza di Scalea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Aysegul Ozerdem
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Erin C. McGlade
- Department of Psychiatry, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake, UT, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Salt Lake, UT, United States
| | - Diana I. Simeonova
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Brain Health Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sharon Dekel
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sara L. Kornfield
- Center for Women’s Behavioral Wellness, Psychiatry Department, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michelle Nazareth
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sandra J. Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Howland MA. Recalibration of the stress response system over adult development: Is there a perinatal recalibration period? Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:2315-2337. [PMID: 37641984 PMCID: PMC10901284 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423000998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
During early life-sensitive periods (i.e., fetal, infancy), the developing stress response system adaptively calibrates to match environmental conditions, whether harsh or supportive. Recent evidence suggests that puberty is another window when the stress system is open to recalibration if environmental conditions have shifted significantly. Whether additional periods of recalibration exist in adulthood remains to be established. The present paper draws parallels between childhood (re)calibration periods and the perinatal period to hypothesize that this phase may be an additional window of stress recalibration in adult life. Specifically, the perinatal period (defined here to include pregnancy, lactation, and early parenthood) is also a developmental switch point characterized by heightened neural plasticity and marked changes in stress system function. After discussing these similarities, lines of empirical evidence needed to substantiate the perinatal stress recalibration hypothesis are proposed, and existing research support is reviewed. Complexities and challenges related to delineating the boundaries of perinatal stress recalibration and empirically testing this hypothesis are discussed, as well as possibilities for future multidisciplinary research. In the theme of this special issue, perinatal stress recalibration may be a mechanism of multilevel, multisystem risk, and resilience, both intra-individually and intergenerationally, with implications for optimizing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariann A Howland
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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7
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Shi R, Xiang S, Jia T, Robbins TW, Kang J, Banaschewski T, Barker GJ, Bokde ALW, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Garavan H, Gowland P, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot JL, Martinot MLP, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos DP, Paus T, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Millenet S, Fröhner JH, Smolka MN, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Lin X, Sahakian BJ, Feng J. Structural neurodevelopment at the individual level - a life-course investigation using ABCD, IMAGEN and UK Biobank data. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.09.20.23295841. [PMID: 37790416 PMCID: PMC10543061 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.20.23295841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents exhibit remarkable heterogeneity in the structural architecture of brain development. However, due to the lack of large-scale longitudinal neuroimaging studies, existing research has largely focused on population averages and the neurobiological basis underlying individual heterogeneity remains poorly understood. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging from the IMAGEN cohort (n=1,543), we show that adolescents can be clustered into three groups defined by distinct developmental patterns of whole-brain gray matter volume (GMV). Genetic and epigenetic determinants of group clustering and long-term impacts of neurodevelopment in mid-to-late adulthood were investigated using data from the ABCD, IMAGEN and UK Biobank cohorts. Group 1, characterized by continuously decreasing GMV, showed generally the best neurocognitive performances during adolescence. Compared to Group 1, Group 2 exhibited a slower rate of GMV decrease and worsened neurocognitive development, which was associated with epigenetic changes and greater environmental burden. Further, Group 3 showed increasing GMV and delayed neurocognitive development during adolescence due to a genetic variation, while these disadvantages were attenuated in mid-to-late adulthood. In summary, our study revealed novel clusters of adolescent structural neurodevelopment and suggested that genetically-predicted delayed neurodevelopment has limited long-term effects on mental well-being and socio-economic outcomes later in life. Our results could inform future research on policy interventions aimed at reducing the financial and emotional burden of mental illness.
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Ward LG, Bublitz M, Sokol N, Brown S, Stroud LR. Experiences of maltreatment in childhood are associated with increasing anxiety and lower body acceptance over pregnancy. J Psychosom Res 2023; 172:111414. [PMID: 37354747 PMCID: PMC10527555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prior studies have established that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors are at increased risk for anxiety during pregnancy. Less is known about the course of anxiety throughout pregnancy for CSA survivors as well as underlying mechanisms linking CSA and perinatal anxiety. We assessed change in anxiety over the course of pregnancy for CSA survivors and examined whether acceptance and awareness of pregnancy-related body changes mediated this change. METHODS 299 pregnant participants from two larger longitudinal cohort studies were grouped into CSA (n = 67), "other Maltreatment" (OM; n = 111); and "no abuse" (NA; n = 121) based on responses to the Adverse Childhood Events scale. We used a general linear mixed model with repeated measures to examine change in anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale) at two time points (MEGA = 26.2 weeks and 34.9) by abuse/maltreatment group and then examined whether group differences in anxiety were mediated by body awareness/acceptance (from Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale) using structural equation modeling. RESULTS The CSA group demonstrated higher anxiety at both gestational time-points and significantly greater increase in anxiety over gestation compared to OM and NA groups (F(1, 280) p = .046). CSA and OM groups reported significantly lower body acceptance than those without abuse/maltreatment (F(2, 287) = 3.486, p = .032). A small proportion of the total effect of CSA on change in anxiety (0.5%) was attributable to body acceptance. CONCLUSION Pregnant CSA survivors experienced a greater increase in anxiety over pregnancy compared to other groups. Both abuse/maltreatment groups exhibited lower body acceptance, yet this contributed little to the association between CSA and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Ward
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, Suite 309, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA; The Women's Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, 146 W. River St., Providence, RI 02904, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Margaret Bublitz
- The Women's Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, 146 W. River St., Providence, RI 02904, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Natasha Sokol
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, Suite 309, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Shaquanna Brown
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, Suite 309, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Laura R Stroud
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, Suite 309, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Box G-BH, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Kessler CL, Vrshek-Schallhorn S, Mineka S, Zinbarg RE, Craske M, Adam EK. Experiences of adversity in childhood and adolescence and cortisol in late adolescence. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1235-1250. [PMID: 34743763 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Early life adversity influences the diurnal cortisol rhythm, yet the relative influence of different characteristics of adversity remains unknown. In this study, we examine how developmental timing (childhood vs. adolescence), severity (major vs. minor), and domain of early life adversity relate to diurnal cortisol rhythms in late adolescence. We assessed adversity retrospectively in early adulthood in a subsample of 236 participants from a longitudinal study of a diverse community sample of suburban adolescents oversampled for high neuroticism. We used multilevel modeling to assess associations between our adversity measures and the diurnal cortisol rhythm (waking and bedtime cortisol, awakening response, slope, and average cortisol). Major childhood adversities were associated with flatter daily slope, and minor adolescent adversities were associated with greater average daily cortisol. Examining domains of childhood adversities, major neglect and sexual abuse were associated with flatter slope and lower waking cortisol, with sexual abuse also associated with higher cortisol awakening response. Major physical abuse was associated with higher waking cortisol. Among adolescent adversities domains, minor neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing violence were associated with greater average cortisol. These results suggest severity, developmental timing, and domain of adversity influence the association of early life adversity with stress response system functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtenay L Kessler
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | - Susan Mineka
- Psychology Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Richard E Zinbarg
- Psychology Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | - Emma K Adam
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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10
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Panisch LS, Murphy HR, Wu Q, Brunner JL, Duberstein ZT, Arnold MS, Best M, Barrett ES, Miller RK, Qiu X, O’Connor TG. Adverse Childhood Experiences Predict Diurnal Cortisol Throughout Gestation. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:507-516. [PMID: 37199406 PMCID: PMC10524578 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative prenatal and perinatal health outcomes and may, via these pathways, have intergenerational effects on child health and development. We examine the impact of ACEs on maternal salivary cortisol, a key measure of prenatal biology previously linked with pregnancy-related health outcomes. METHODS Leveraging assessments across three trimesters, we used linear mixed-effects models to analyze the influence of ACEs on maternal prenatal diurnal cortisol patterns in a diverse cohort of pregnant women (analytic sample, n = 207). Covariates included comorbid prenatal depression, psychiatric medications, and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS Maternal ACEs were significantly associated with flatter diurnal cortisol slopes (i.e., less steep decline), after adjusting for covariates, with effects consistent across gestation (estimate = 0.15, standard error = 0.06, p = .008). CONCLUSIONS ACEs experienced before pregnancy may have a robust and lasting influence on maternal prenatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity throughout gestation, a key biological marker associated with perinatal and child health outcomes. The findings suggest one route of intergenerational transmission of early adverse experiences and underscore the potential value of assessing prepregnancy adverse experiences for promoting perinatal and maternal and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S. Panisch
- Wayne State University School of Social Work, 5447 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Hannah R. Murphy
- Translational Biomedical Science, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Qiuyi Wu
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Saunders Research Building, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Jessica L. Brunner
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Zoe T. Duberstein
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O. Box 270266, Rochester, New York, 14627, USA
| | - Molly S. Arnold
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O. Box 270266, Rochester, New York, 14627, USA
| | - Meghan Best
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Emily S. Barrett
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
| | - Richard K. Miller
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
| | - Xing Qiu
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Saunders Research Building, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Box 630, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Thomas G. O’Connor
- Wynne Center for Family Research, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Psychology, University of Rochester, Meliora Hall, P.O. Box 270266, Rochester, New York, 14627, USA
- Neuroscience, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 603, KMRB G.9602, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
- Psychiatry, University of Rochester, 300 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
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11
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Rinne GR, Hartstein J, Guardino CM, Dunkel Schetter C. Stress before conception and during pregnancy and maternal cortisol during pregnancy: A scoping review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 153:106115. [PMID: 37119659 PMCID: PMC10936734 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress before conception and during pregnancy is associated with less favorable maternal and child health. Alterations in prenatal cortisol levels may serve as a central biological pathway linking stress to adverse maternal and child health. Research examining associations between maternal stress from childhood through pregnancy and prenatal cortisol has not been comprehensively reviewed. METHOD The current scoping review of 48 papers synthesizes studies reporting on associations between stress before conception and during pregnancy with maternal cortisol in pregnancy. Eligible studies measured childhood, the proximal preconception period, pregnancy, or lifetime stress based on stress exposures or appraisals and measured cortisol in saliva or hair during pregnancy. RESULTS Higher maternal childhood stress was associated with higher cortisol awakening responses and alterations in typical pregnancy-specific changes in diurnal cortisol patterns across studies. In contrast, most studies of preconception and prenatal stress reported null associations with cortisol and those reporting significant effects were inconsistent in direction. A few studies found that the associations between stress and cortisol during pregnancy varied as a function of several moderators including social support and environmental pollution. CONCLUSIONS Although many studies have evaluated effects of maternal stress on prenatal cortisol, this scoping review is the first to synthesize existing literature on this topic. The association between stress before conception and during pregnancy and prenatal cortisol may depend on the developmental timing of stress and several moderators. Maternal childhood stress was more consistently associated with prenatal cortisol than proximal preconception or pregnancy stress. We discuss methodological and analytic factors that may contribute to mixed findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle R Rinne
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jenna Hartstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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12
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Bublitz M, Kelsey K, Butler R, Bourjeily G. Maternal history of childhood maltreatment is associated with diurnal cortisol and DNA methylation of placental 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. Obstet Med 2023; 16:12-16. [PMID: 37139510 PMCID: PMC10150305 DOI: 10.1177/1753495x221087168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Accumulating evidence indicates that maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity over pregnancy differs according to maternal history of childhood maltreatment. DNA methylation of the placental 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (BHSD) type 2 enzyme regulates fetal exposure to maternal cortisol, yet the association between maternal history of childhood maltreatment and methylation of placental 11BHSD type 2 has not been previously studied. Methods We examined if maternal cortisol production at 11 and 32 weeks' gestation (n = 89) and placental methylation of the 11BHSD type 2 gene (n = 19) differed among pregnant women with and without histories of childhood maltreatment. Twenty-nine percent of participants reported a history of childhood maltreatment (physical/sexual abuse). Results Women with histories of childhood maltreatment displayed lower cortisol in early gestation, hypo-methylation of placental 11BHSD type 2, and lower levels of cord blood cortisol. Conclusion Preliminary results suggest alterations in cortisol regulation over pregnancy according to maternal history of childhood maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Bublitz
- Women’s Medicine Collaborative, Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical
School, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Karl Kelsey
- Departments of Epidemiology and
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown
University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Environmental Health and
Technology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Rondi Butler
- Center for Environmental Health and
Technology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ghada Bourjeily
- Women’s Medicine Collaborative, Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown
University, Providence, RI, USA
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13
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Reid BM, Sokol N, Aubuchon-Endsley NL, Stroud LR. Maternal prenatal cortisol and the interaction of income and pre-pregnancy body mass index are independently associated with newborn cortisol. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22354. [PMID: 36567656 PMCID: PMC9940703 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
While extensive research has supported the developmental programming hypothesis regarding contributions of prenatal psychosocial or nutritional adversity to offspring stress physiology, fewer studies consider both exposures together with maternal stress physiology. This study examined newborn cortisol output during a stressor as a function of maternal pre-pregnancy health status and nutritional history (pre-pregnancy body mass index [PPBMI]), economic resources (household income), and maternal cortisol awakening response (mCAR) in late pregnancy. Participants were 102 mother-infant pairs from an economically and racial/ethnically diverse sample. Offspring salivary cortisol response to a neurobehavioral exam was assessed at 1 month. Income and maternal PPBMI were positively associated with mCAR in late pregnancy. mCAR was positively related to 1-month newborn cortisol response. The interaction of income and PPBMI was positively associated with newborn cortisol output during an exam at 1-month. Mothers with the highest PPBMI and lowest income had offspring with higher cortisol responses than offspring of mothers with higher income and lower PPBMI. There was no evidence of indirect mediation effects of predictors (PPBMI, income, and interaction) on infant cortisol via mCAR. The differential effects of the interaction of PPBMI and income suggest that these exposures influence infant cortisol output in the context of one another, independent of maternal pregnancy cortisol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brie M. Reid
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Natasha Sokol
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Laura R. Stroud
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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14
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Maternal childhood trauma is associated with offspring body size during the first year of life. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19619. [PMID: 36380091 PMCID: PMC9666509 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23740-6] [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: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal childhood trauma (MCT) is an important factor affecting offspring size at birth. Whether the effect of MCT persists during the subsequent development remains unclear. We present the results of a semi-longitudinal investigation examining the physical growth of infants born to mothers with high (HCT) and low (LCT) childhood trauma during the first year of life. One hundred healthy mother-infant dyads were included based on following criteria: exclusive breastfeeding, birth on term with appropriate weight for gestational age. MCT was assessed using the Early Life Stress Questionnaire. The weight, length, and head circumference of the infant were taken at birth, 5 and 12 months postpartum. Separate MANCOVA models were run for infant size at each age. We found an association between MCT and infant size at 5 and 12 months. The children of mothers with HCT had higher weight and greater head circumference than the children of mothers with LCT. These results suggest that MCT might contribute to developmental programming of offspring growth during the first year of life. From an evolutionary perspective, the larger size of HCT mother's offspring might represent an adaptation to potentially harsh environmental conditions. This effect might be mediated by epigenetic changes to DNA and altered breast milk composition.
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15
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Ishikawa K, Azuma N, Ohka M. Intergenerational Transmission of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences on Next Generation's Development: A Mini-Review. Front Psychol 2022; 13:852467. [PMID: 35645853 PMCID: PMC9131025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.852467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
(Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have extremely harmful impacts on an individual’s physical, social and mental health throughout their life-span. Recently, it has been reported that maternal ACEs increase the risk of developmental delay in the offspring across generations. This mini review focuses on the direct relationship between maternal ACEs and child developmental delay, and potential mediators/moderators that associate their relationship. Six studies were identified using three search engines. The results indicated that four out of six studies reported at least one significant direct association between maternal ACEs and child development. Additionally, maternal biological, psychological, and social factors were identified as mediators or moderators. In summary, we identified that maternal ACEs increased the risk of developmental delay in children via biological and psychosocial pathways. Future research should examine potential buffering factors and identify when it is crucial to break the intergenerational transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Ishikawa
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Natsuko Azuma
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mai Ohka
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Maternal childhood maltreatment and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2022; 302:139-159. [PMID: 35041871 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal childhood maltreatment (MCM) is linked to poor perinatal outcomes but the evidence base lacks cohesion. We explore the impact of MCM on four perinatal outcome domains: pregnancy and obstetric; maternal mental health; infant; and the quality of the care-giving environment. Mechanisms identified in the included studies are discussed in relation to the maternal programming hypothesis and directions for future research. METHOD We completed a comprehensive literature search of eight electronic databases. Independent quality assessments were conducted and PRISMA protocols applied to data extraction. RESULTS Inclusion criteria was met by N = 49 studies. MCM was consistently associated with difficulties in maternal and infant emotional regulation and with disturbances in the mother-infant relationship. Directly observed and maternal-reported difficulties in the mother-infant relationship were often mediated by mothers' current symptoms of psychopathology. Direct and mediated associations between MCM and adverse pregnancy and obstetric outcomes were suggested by a limited number of studies. Emotional and sexual abuse were the most consistent MCM subtype significantly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. LIMITATIONS A meta-analysis was not possible due to inconsistent reporting and the generally small number of studies for most perinatal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS MCM is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes for mothers' and infants. Evidence suggests these associations are mediated by disruptions to maternal emotional functioning. Future research should explore biological and psychosocial mechanisms underpinning observed associations between specific subtypes of MCM and adverse perinatal outcomes. Services have a unique opportunity to screen for MCM and detect women and infants at risk of adverse outcomes during the perinatal period.
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17
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Bublitz MH, Freeburg T, Sharp M, Salameh M, Bourjeily G. Childhood adversity, prenatal depression, and maternal inflammation across pregnancy. Obstet Med 2022; 15:25-30. [PMID: 35444718 PMCID: PMC9014541 DOI: 10.1177/1753495x211011910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To examine whether change in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, a marker of systemic inflammation, differs by childhood adversity and prenatal depression. Methods Prenatal complete blood count data were used to calculate neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in first and third trimesters. The Adverse Childhood Experiences scale measured childhood adversity, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 measured depression. This is a secondary analysis of a study of predictors of risk for sleep-disordered breathing. Results Participants were 98 pregnant women, mean age 30 years (SD = 5), mean body mass index of 35 kg/m2 (SD = 7), 61% identified as white, and 28% identified as Hispanic. Women who reported childhood sexual abuse history displayed greater increase in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio over pregnancy relative to women without childhood sexual abuse. Change in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio across pregnancy did not differ by prenatal depression. Conclusion Experiences of sexual abuse in childhood may impact markers of systemic inflammation in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret H Bublitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert
Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of
Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Women’s Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, Providence,
RI, USA,Margaret H Bublitz Department of Psychiatry
and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 146
West River Street, Providence, RI 02904, USA.
| | - Taylor Freeburg
- Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of
Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Meghan Sharp
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert
Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Women’s Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, Providence,
RI, USA
| | - Myriam Salameh
- Women’s Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, Providence,
RI, USA
| | - Ghada Bourjeily
- Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of
Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Women’s Medicine Collaborative, The Miriam Hospital, Providence,
RI, USA
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18
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Moog NK, Heim CM, Entringer S, Simhan HN, Wadhwa PD, Buss C. Transmission of the adverse consequences of childhood maltreatment across generations: Focus on gestational biology. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 215:173372. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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19
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Hardcastle K, Ford K, Bellis MA. Maternal adverse childhood experiences and their association with preterm birth: secondary analysis of data from universal health visiting. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:129. [PMID: 35172776 PMCID: PMC8848970 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04454-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Being born before full gestation can have short-term and life-long health implications, yet it remains difficult to determine the risk of preterm birth among expectant mothers. Across different health settings, increasing attention is given to the health and behavioural consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as child abuse or neglect, or exposure to harmful household environments (e.g. in which caregivers abuse alcohol), and the potential value of understanding these hidden harms when supporting individuals and families. A large international evidence base describes the association between childhood adversity and early years outcomes for mothers and children. However, the relationship between maternal ACEs and preterm birth has received far less attention. Methods Secondary analysis was carried out on anonymised cross-sectional data from health visiting services in south and west Wales that had previously captured information on mothers’ ACEs during routine contacts. Demographic data and information on mothers’ health were extracted from the Healthy Child Wales Programme. Results Half of all mothers sampled had experienced at least one ACE, with a history of ACEs more common among younger, white British mothers and those residing in deprived areas. Preterm birth was significantly independently associated with retrospective reports of childhood sexual abuse (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19–12.32, p = 0.025), neglect (AOR = 7.60, 95%CI = 1.81–31.97, p = 0.006) and overall ACE exposure (AOR = 2.67, 95%CI = 1.14–6.23, p = 0.024), with one in ten mothers (10.0%) who experienced ≥4 ACEs having preterm birth. Sub-analyses revealed a more pronounced relationship among mothers with no known chronic health conditions, with those with ≥4 ACEs and no known chronic condition four times more likely to give birth preterm (AOR = 3.89, 95%CI = 1.40–10.80, p = 0.009). Conclusions Findings highlight the importance of the entire maternal experience. The experience of childhood adversity can have a lasting impact into and beyond the prenatal period, potentially increasing the risk of preterm birth, even among otherwise healthy women. Increasing our understanding of the potential perinatal outcomes associated with ACEs can help to inform how maternity services and partners offer trauma-sensitive support to mitigate some of the risks of early parturition, as well as target intergenerational cycles of adversity and poor health. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04454-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Hardcastle
- Policy and International Health, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being, Public Health Wales, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK
| | - Kat Ford
- Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK.
| | - Mark A Bellis
- Policy and International Health, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being, Public Health Wales, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK.,Public Health Collaborating Unit, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YP, UK
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20
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Zou H, Tao Z, Zhou Y, Zhang Z, Zhang C, Li L, Yang J, Wang Y, Huang W, Wang J. Perceived Stress Positively Relates to Insomnia Symptoms: The Moderation of Resilience in Chinese Pregnant Women During COVID-19. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:856627. [PMID: 35573361 PMCID: PMC9092980 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.856627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The government's COVID-19 pandemic response lockdown strategy had a negative psychological and physical impact on individuals, which necessitated special care to pregnant women's mental health. There has been no large-scale research on the underlying relationship between perceived stress and insomnia symptoms in pregnant Chinese women up to this point. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to see if there was an association between perceived stress and insomnia symptoms, as well as the moderating impact of resilience for Chinese pregnant women. METHODS This cross-sectional study examined 2115 pregnant women from central and western China using multi-stage sampling methodologies. A systematic questionnaire was used to collect information on sleep quality, perceived stress, and resilience using the Insomnia Severity Index, Perceptual Stress Scale, and Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale. To assess the moderating influence of resilience, hierarchical regressions were used. RESULTS During the COVID-19 pandemic, 18.53% of respondents (N = 2115) reported experiencing sleeplessness. In pregnant women, perceived stress was positively linked with insomnia symptoms (p < 0.001). Furthermore, resilience significantly attenuated the influence of perceived stress on insomnia symptoms in Chinese expectant mother (βinteraction = -0.0126, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Pregnant women with strong resilience were less influenced by perceived stress than those with poor resilience. The findings of this study might give empirical proof that health care professionals should identify the relevance of reducing perceived stress in pregnant women with poor resilience and provide better treatment and support when necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zou
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Tao
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yongjie Zhou
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Linling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiezhi Yang
- Shenzhen Health Development Research Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanni Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianhong Wang
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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21
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Lo Iacono L, Trentini C, Carola V. Psychobiological Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Current Knowledge and Clinical Implications. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:771511. [PMID: 34924938 PMCID: PMC8678607 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.771511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A large body of research has documented the long-term harms of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on an individual’s emotional-adaptive function and mental health. Recent studies have also provided evidence of the biological impact of CSA, implicating specific alterations in many systems, including the endocrine and immune systems, and in DNA and chromatin, in the pathogenesis of medical disorders. Although the effects of CSA are often examined with regard to the general impact of early-life traumatic experiences, the study of CSA per sè, as a trigger of specific pathogenic pathways, would be more appropriate to understand their long-term implications and develop tailored diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Based on these premises, this narrative minireview summarizes the research on the short-term and long-term sequelae of CSA, focusing on dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the effects on the immune system, and the changes to DNA through altered methylation. Also, we discuss the literature that examines dysfunctional DNA telomere erosion and oxidative stress markers as a sign of CSA. Finally, recent evidence of the intergenerational transmission of the effects of CSA is reported. The impact of CSA on brain connectivity and functions is out of the scope of this review, thus brain imaging studies are not included. The results of this minireview are discussed, considering their implications for prevention and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Lo Iacono
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Trentini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Carola
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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22
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Allen MC, Moog NK, Buss C, Yen E, Gustafsson HC, Sullivan EL, Graham AM. Co-occurrence of preconception maternal childhood adversity and opioid use during pregnancy: Implications for offspring brain development. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 88:107033. [PMID: 34601061 PMCID: PMC8578395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding of the effects of in utero opioid exposure on neurodevelopment is a priority given the recent dramatic increase in opioid use among pregnant individuals. However, opioid abuse does not occur in isolation-pregnant individuals abusing opioids often have a significant history of adverse experiences in childhood, among other co-occurring factors. Understanding the specific pathways in which these frequently co-occurring factors may interact and cumulatively influence offspring brain development in utero represents a priority for future research in this area. We highlight maternal history of childhood adversity (CA) as one such co-occurring factor that is more prevalent among individuals using opioids during pregnancy and which is increasingly shown to affect offspring neurodevelopment through mechanisms beginning in utero. Despite the high incidence of CA history in pregnant individuals using opioids, we understand very little about the effects of comorbid prenatal opioid exposure and maternal CA history on fetal brain development. Here, we first provide an overview of current knowledge regarding effects of opioid exposure and maternal CA on offspring neurodevelopment that may occur during gestation. We then outline potential mechanistic pathways through which these factors might have interactive and cumulative influences on offspring neurodevelopment as a foundation for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine C Allen
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Nora K Moog
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Luisenstrasse 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Buss
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Luisenstrasse 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, 837 Health Sciences Drive, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Elizabeth Yen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, United States
| | - Hanna C Gustafsson
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185(th) Ave., Beaverton, OR 97006, United States; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States
| | - Alice M Graham
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239, United States.
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23
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Howell KH, Miller-Graff LE, Martinez-Torteya C, Napier TR, Carney JR. Charting a Course towards Resilience Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: Addressing Intergenerational Trauma via Strengths-Based Intervention. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8100844. [PMID: 34682109 PMCID: PMC8534646 DOI: 10.3390/children8100844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Early research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) provided staggering evidence of the significant ramifications of ACEs on physical health and functioning. It brought to the forefront the importance of addressing trauma and family dysfunction to enhance public health. Over the past several decades, the study of childhood adversity has blossomed, with expanded conceptualizations and assessments of ACEs. This review brings together various biological, psychological, and sociological principles that inform our understanding of ACEs and our approach to treatment. Specifically, we document the evolution of ACEs research, focusing on the intergenerational impact of ACEs, the importance of incorporating a resilience framework when examining ACEs, and implementing interventions that address adversity across generations and at multiple levels of the social ecology. Evidence is provided to support the evolving perspective that ACEs have long-lasting effects beyond the ACE(s)-exposed individual, with significant attention to the impact of parental ACEs on child development. An intergenerational and multilevel approach to understanding and addressing ACEs offers specific areas to target in interventions and in public policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn H. Howell
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Laura E. Miller-Graff
- Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; (L.E.M.-G.); (J.R.C.)
- Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | | | - Taylor R. Napier
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA;
| | - Jessica R. Carney
- Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; (L.E.M.-G.); (J.R.C.)
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24
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Crespo-Sanmiguel I, Zapater-Fajarí M, Pulopulos MM, Hidalgo V, Salvador A. Loneliness Mediates the Relationship Between Early Life Stress and Perceived Stress but not Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functioning. Front Psychol 2021; 12:647265. [PMID: 34539480 PMCID: PMC8446206 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647265] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many authors have proposed that early life stress (ELS) provokes a dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and contributes negatively to the management of stress in adulthood. However, these associations have not always been observed, making it necessary to include new factors that could explain the different results found. In this regard, people with ELS experiences report less social support during adulthood, suggesting that loneliness could be a mediating factor. Thus, our aims were to investigate whether ELS was related to both perceived stress and diurnal HPA axis activity, and whether loneliness mediates these relationships, in a community sample (N=187, 18-55years old). Fourteen cortisol samples were collected on two non-consecutive days to obtain the overall diurnal cortisol, diurnal cortisol slope, and bedtime levels. Additionally, ELS was assessed with the Risky Families Questionnaire (RFQ) and the Recalled Childhood and Adolescence Perceived Stress (ReCAPS) measure. Results revealed that ELS was associated with perceived stress, but not HPA axis functioning, and loneliness mediated the relationship between ELS and perceived stress, but not between ELS and HPA axis functioning. Similar results were found for both ELS questionnaires, suggesting that the ReCAPS is an adequate tool. These results highlight the importance of loneliness in understanding the long-term effects of ELS, and they indicate different effects of ELS on subjective and physiological stress indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Crespo-Sanmiguel
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychobiology-IDOCAL, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mariola Zapater-Fajarí
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychobiology-IDOCAL, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Matias M Pulopulos
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Area of Psychobiology, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - Vanesa Hidalgo
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Area of Psychobiology, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - Alicia Salvador
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychobiology-IDOCAL, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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The role of maternal nutrition during pregnancy in the intergenerational transmission of childhood adversity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 130:105283. [PMID: 34082275 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of a woman can lead to dysregulated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy, which can in turn adversely affect her offspring HPA axis function. Choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are dietary factors with the potential to favorably modify the stress response system. The current study aimed to investigate whether maternal choline intake and DHA status moderate the effects of maternal ACEs exposure on maternal and infant HPA axes function. Participants were a sub-sample of the prospective longitudinal Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study consisting of 340 mothers and 238 infants. We collected data on maternal ACEs, maternal choline intake (24-hour dietary recall) and serum phospholipid DHA concentrations (at each trimester). Women self-collected saliva samples on two consecutive days (at waking, +30 min, 1100 h, and 2100 h) in each trimester to calculate the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and total daytime cortisol. Infants' salivary cortisol was measured before and after (20, and 40 min) exposure to a blood draw stressor 3 months postpartum. During pregnancy, choline intake moderated (reduced) the association between maternal ACEs and CAR (β = -0.003; 95% CI -0.006, -0.003), but not total daytime cortisol. DHA status did not moderate the association between ACEs and CAR or total daytime cortisol. Choline intake also moderated (reduced) the association between maternal CAR and infant cortisol during a stress task (β = -0.0001; 95% CI -0.0002, -0.00003). Maternal DHA status revealed no modifying effects on these associations. Our findings suggest that maternal choline intake, but not DHA status, can buffer the associations between ACEs and maternal HPA axis, as well as maternal and infant HPA axes function.
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Epstein CM, Houfek JF, Rice MJ, Weiss SJ. Integrative Review of Early Life Adversity and Cortisol Regulation in Pregnancy. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2021; 50:242-255. [PMID: 33524324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2020.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To synthesize published findings on the relationship between early life adversity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis cortisol parameters in pregnant women. DATA SOURCES We searched PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases using variants and combinations of the keywords early life adversity, pregnancy, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and cortisol. STUDY SELECTION We selected articles that included pregnant participants, included measures of cortisol and early life adversity, were published in English in a peer-reviewed journal, and were of sufficient methodologic quality. Date of publication was unrestricted through May 2020. DATA EXTRACTION Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated for quality and risk of bias. Sources of cortisol included saliva, hair, plasma, and amniotic fluid. DATA SYNTHESIS We categorized findings according to four physiologically distinct cortisol output parameters: diurnal (daily pattern), phasic (in response to an acute stressor), tonic (baseline level), and pregnancy-related change. Preliminary evidence suggests that early adversity may be associated with elevated cortisol awakening response (diurnal) and blunted response to acute stressors (phasic), irrespective of other psychosocial symptoms or current stress. For women with high levels of current stress or psychological symptoms, early adversity was associated with higher baseline (tonic) cortisol levels. CONCLUSION Early life adversity in women is linked with alterations in cortisol regulation that are apparent during pregnancy. Researchers should examine how variations in each cortisol parameter differentially predict pregnancy health risk behaviors, maternal mental health, and neonatal health outcomes.
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Brunton R, Dryer R. Child Sexual Abuse and Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2021; 111:104802. [PMID: 33218712 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child sexual abuse is related to many negative outcomes but less known is the effect on pregnancy and childbirth. OBJECTIVE This review critically examined the literature on the occurrence of child sexual abuse and outcomes associated with this abuse during pregnancy and childbirth. METHODS Five databases were searched over 50 years using an iterative approach and the terms pregnancy, sexual abuse/assault, childbirth/labour, identifying 49 studies. RESULTS The prevalence of child sexual abuse in pregnant women ranged from 2.63% to 37.25 with certain characteristics more common with a higher (e.g., specific questions, low income) or lower (broad questions, higher education) prevalence. Compared to women with no history of abuse, child sexual abuse survivors may have more concerns with their care, greater health complaints, fear childbirth and have difficulties with delivery. They also had a higher likelihood of PTSD symptomology and anxiety, consumed more harmful substances (e.g., alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs) and had greater concerns with their appearance, poorer health, sleep and may also have a higher risk of re-victimisation. CONCLUSIONS The balance of evidence suggests that compared to non-abused women, women with a child abuse history have more adverse experiences with pregnancy, childbirth, and care, with their abuse history, likely contributes to harmful behaviours and psychopathology. However, variability in operationalisation and measurement of abuse may contribute to these findings so tentative conclusions are drawn. Future research should examine the generalisability of the findings (relating to scale limitations) and recommendations for screening (e.g., sensitive items, scoring). Clinical implications of the findings point to the need for early identification of women with a child abuse history as such women require trauma-sensitive care and consideration. A useful tool is the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale which provides insights into specific areas of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Brunton
- Charles Sturt University, School of Psychology, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia.
| | - Rachel Dryer
- Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, NSW 2135, Australia
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Steine IM, LeWinn KZ, Lisha N, Tylavsky F, Smith R, Bowman M, Sathyanarayana S, Karr CJ, Smith AK, Kobor M, Bush NR. Maternal exposure to childhood traumatic events, but not multi-domain psychosocial stressors, predict placental corticotrophin releasing hormone across pregnancy. Soc Sci Med 2020; 266:113461. [PMID: 33126094 PMCID: PMC9380779 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Maternal psychosocial stress increases the risk of adverse birth and postnatal outcomes for the mother and child, but the role of maternal exposure to childhood traumatic events (CTE) and multi-domain psychosocial stressors for the level and rise of placental Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone (pCRH) across pregnancy has been understudied. In a sociodemographically and racially diverse sample of 1303 women (64% Black, 36% White/others) with low-medical risk pregnancies at enrollment from Shelby County, Tennessee, USA, blood samples were drawn twice, corresponding roughly to second and third trimester, and extracted prior to conducting radioimmune assays for pCRH. Mothers reported CTE (physical abuse, sexual abuse, or family violence, in childhood), adulthood traumatic events, and interpersonal violence during pregnancy. Neighborhood crime/deprivation was derived using geospatially-linked objective databases. General linear and mixed models tested associations between stress exposure variables and pCRH levels and rate of rise, adjusting for obstetric/clinical/health related factors. Maternal CTE did not predict pCRH levels at time 1, but positively predicted levels at time 2, and the rate of rise in pCRH across pregnancy. Race did not moderate this association. No additional maternal stress exposures across adulthood or during pregnancy predicted pCRH outcomes. Findings indicate that childhood violence or abuse exposure can become biologically embedded in a manner predicting later prenatal physiology relevant for maternal and offspring health, and that such embedding may be specific to childhood, but not adulthood, stress. Findings also highlight the placental-fetal unit as a mechanistic pathway through which intergenerational transmission of the adverse effects of childhood adversities may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris M Steine
- Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley, Department of Psychology, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA, 94704, USA; Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, USA
| | - Nadra Lisha
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, USA
| | - Frances Tylavsky
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA
| | - Roger Smith
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Maria Bowman
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington Department of Pediatrics, Seattle, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, USA; University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Seattle, USA
| | - Catherine J Karr
- University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Seattle, USA; University of Washington Departments of Pediatrics, Seattle, USA
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Michael Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to study the association between maternal history of childhood adversity and blood pressure in pregnancy. METHODS A total of 127 pregnant women completed measures of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and prenatal stress between June 2015 and April 2019. At 11 weeks' gestation (range, 6-17 weeks), we measured 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. All women were considered to be at risk for pregnancy complications due to elevated body mass index and self-reporting snoring in pregnancy. RESULTS Women were, on average, 30 years old (range, 19-40 years), and average (standard deviation) body mass index in this sample was 34 (7) kg/m (range, 27-55 kg/m). Higher ACE scores were associated with higher nighttime blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: β = 0.23, p = .013; diastolic blood pressure: β = 0.22, p = .028). There were no significant associations between the ACE score and daytime blood pressure. Women with four or more ACEs were more likely to display nocturnal blood pressure nondipping (odds ratio = 3.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.38-11.40). Associations between ACE and nocturnal blood pressure remained significant after adjusting for symptoms of prenatal stress. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that experiences of childhood adversity are associated with elevated nocturnal blood pressure and loss of a typical decline in blood pressure between day and night.
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30
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Jairaj C, O'Leary N, Doolin K, Farrell C, McCarthy A, McAuliffe FM, O'Grady-Walshe A, Sheehan J, O'Keane V. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the perinatal period: Its relationship with major depressive disorder and early life adversity. World J Biol Psychiatry 2020; 21:552-563. [PMID: 32216569 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1740318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Effects of major depressive disorder and early life adversity (ELA) on the maternal HPA axis in the perinatal period were examined.Methods: Four groups of women (n = 127) were recruited, with the perinatal groups being compared during pregnancy (Preg) and at two months postpartum (PP) - [1] Depressed during pregnancy (Depressed-Preg/PP), [2] Prior history of depression but euthymic during pregnancy (History-Preg/PP), [3] Healthy pregnant women (Control-Preg/PP), and [4] Healthy non-pregnant women (Non-pregnant Control). Serial saliva samples were collected over the course of a day and waking and evening cortisol, total cortisol output and the cortisol awakening response were examined.Results: There were no HPA axis differences among the three groups during pregnancy. A history of ELA, regardless of comorbid depression, was associated with higher evening cortisol levels during pregnancy (p = 0.015). Women in the Depressed-PP group had had higher evening cortisol levels compared to the History-PP group (p < 0.017).Conclusions: Evening cortisol measures are a potential marker for both ELA and depression, with higher levels during pregnancy being associated with ELA and higher levels postpartum being associated with antenatal depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaitra Jairaj
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh O'Leary
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kelly Doolin
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chloe Farrell
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anthony McCarthy
- Perinatal Mental Health Service, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ann O'Grady-Walshe
- Perinatal Mental Health Service, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Sheehan
- Perinatal Mental Health Service, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Veronica O'Keane
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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31
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Stephens JE, Kessler CL, Buss C, Miller GE, Grobman WA, Keenan-Devlin L, Borders AE, Adam EK. Early and current life adversity: Past and present influences on maternal diurnal cortisol rhythms during pregnancy. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 63:305-319. [PMID: 32572946 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Stress during pregnancy affects maternal health and well-being, as well as the health and well-being of the next generation, in part through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Although most studies have focused solely on proximal experiences (i.e., during the pregnancy) as sources of prenatal stress, there has been a recent surge in studies that examine maternal early life adversity as a source of stress system dysregulation during pregnancy. The current study of 178 pregnant women examined the association of economic and life stress experienced during two time periods (i.e., childhood and pregnancy) with maternal HPA axis activity during the third trimester of pregnancy. Findings indicated that a current annual income of less than $15,000 and greater childhood disadvantage were associated with a flatter diurnal cortisol slope. Childhood maltreatment, particularly sexual abuse, was associated with a higher cortisol awakening response (CAR), even when controlling for recent adversity. We found some evidence that past adversity moderates the relationship between current adversity and diurnal cortisol, specifically for economic adversity and waking cortisol. Overall, our findings indicate that early life stressors play an important and underappreciated role in shaping stress biology during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn E Stephens
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Courtenay L Kessler
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Claudia Buss
- University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregory E Miller
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - William A Grobman
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Ann E Borders
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Emma K Adam
- School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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Epstein CM, Houfek JF, Rice MJ, Weiss SJ, French JA, Kupzyk KA, Hammer SJ, Pullen CH. Early life adversity and depressive symptoms predict cortisol in pregnancy. Arch Womens Ment Health 2020; 23:379-389. [PMID: 31289940 PMCID: PMC7913604 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-019-00983-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that exposure to early life adversity (ELA) programs the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to influence responses to later adversity and predisposes women to depression. However, few studies have examined whether ELA moderates the HPA cortisol response to adulthood adversity and depressive symptoms in pregnant women. The aims of this study were to determine (a) whether ELA, adulthood adversity, and depressive symptoms differentially predict patterns of cortisol and (b) whether ELA moderates the relationship of adulthood adversity or depressive symptoms to cortisol. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of pregnant women (N = 58, mean = 26.5 weeks gestation). Participants completed the Stress and Adversity Inventory and Edinburgh Depression Scale and collected salivary cortisol five times per day for 3 days to assess cortisol awakening response (CAR), diurnal cortisol slope, and cortisol area under the curve (AUC). ELA predicted a larger CAR, while depressive symptoms predicted a blunted CAR and higher cortisol AUC. Adulthood adversity predicted a blunted CAR and steeper diurnal slope, but only in women with high ELA. ELA also moderated the effect of depressive symptoms on diurnal slope. Early adversity and depressive symptoms appear to have significant effects on the HPA axis during pregnancy, with early adversity also moderating effects of depressive symptoms and adulthood adversity on cortisol regulation. Early adversity may be an important factor in identifying unique HPA phenotypes and risk for HPA axis dysregulation in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Modde Epstein
- UCSF School of Nursing, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA. .,UNMC College of Nursing, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5330, USA.
| | - Julia F Houfek
- UNMC College of Nursing, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5330, USA
| | - Michael J Rice
- College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 13120 East 19th Ave, Ed 2 North Bldg, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Sandra J Weiss
- UCSF School of Nursing, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Jeffrey A French
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St Allwine Hall 419, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Kevin A Kupzyk
- UNMC College of Nursing, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5330, USA
| | - Sharon J Hammer
- UNMC College of Medicine, S 42nd St & Emile St, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Carol H Pullen
- UNMC College of Nursing, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5330, USA
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Zhang L, Yang X, Zhao J, Zhang W, Cui C, Yang F, Ma R, Jia Y. Prevalence of Prenatal Depression Among Pregnant Women and the Importance of Resilience: A Multi-Site Questionnaire-Based Survey in Mainland China. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:374. [PMID: 32435211 PMCID: PMC7218063 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal depression is associated with adverse maternal and fetal health consequences, yet it has not raised sufficient concerns in China. Psychological worries and stress may lead to prenatal depression, but resilience could relieve some of the negative effects of worries and stress and mitigate prenatal depression. AIMS This study aimed to assess the prevalence of prenatal depression and explore its associated factors. METHOD A multisite cross-sectional study was conducted that included 605 pregnant women from three hospitals in two provincial capitals (Shenyang and Zhengzhou) and one municipality (Chongqing). A smartphone questionnaire was employed to assess prenatal depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore factors associated with prenatal depression. RESULTS The prevalence of prenatal depression (CES-D≥16) among Chinese pregnant women was 28.4%. Logistic regression analyses revealed that prenatal depression was positively associated with worries about appearance (odds ratio [OR] 1.666, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043-2.661) and perceived stress (OR 1.156, 95% CI 1.104-1.211) and negatively associated with monthly income, relationship with mother (OR 0.287, 95% CI 0.103-0.796), and resilience (OR 0.935, 95% CI 0.918-0.953). CONCLUSION These findings revealed that Chinese pregnant women suffered from high levels of prenatal depression (28.4%). Worries about appearance and perceived stress were risk factors for prenatal depression, whereas a pregnant woman's harmonious relationship with her own mother and resilience could relieve the negative impacts of pregnancy that can lead to prenatal depression. Improving resilience and maintaining harmonious relationships with mothers should be emphasized in order to reduce the detrimental effects of pregnancy and improve the mental well-being of pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoshi Yang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhao
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Weiyu Zhang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fengzhi Yang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ruqing Ma
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yajing Jia
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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The role of HPA-axis function during pregnancy in the intergenerational transmission of maternal adverse childhood experiences to child behavior problems. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 33:284-300. [PMID: 32124709 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579419001767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The current study aimed to understand the mediating and/or moderating role of prenatal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at age 4. The influence of timing and child sex were also explored. Participants were 248 mother-child dyads enrolled in a prospective longitudinal cohort study (the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition Study). Maternal ACEs were retrospectively assessed while maternal self-reported depression and diurnal salivary cortisol were assessed prospectively at 6-26 weeks gestation (T1) and 27-37 weeks gestation (T2). Maternal report of child internalizing and externalizing problems was assessed at 4 years (T3). Results revealed that there was a negative indirect association between maternal ACEs and child internalizing behavior via a higher maternal cortisol awakening response (CAR). Maternal diurnal cortisol slope moderated the association between maternal ACEs and child behavior problems. Some of these effects were dependent on child sex, such that higher ACEs and a flatter diurnal slope at T1 was associated with more internalizing behavior in female children and more externalizing behavior in male children. There were timing effects such that the mediating and moderating effects were strongest at T1.
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Heim CM, Entringer S, Buss C. Translating basic research knowledge on the biological embedding of early-life stress into novel approaches for the developmental programming of lifelong health. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 105:123-137. [PMID: 30578047 PMCID: PMC6561839 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review integrates scientific knowledge obtained over the past few decades on the biological mechanisms that contribute to the profound association between exposure to early adversity, including childhood trauma and prenatal stress, and the lifelong elevated risk to develop a broad range of diseases. We further discuss insights into gene-environment interactions moderating the association between early adversity and disease manifestation and we discuss the role of epigenetic and other molecular processes in the biological embedding of early adversity. Based on these findings, we propose potential mechanisms that may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of risk related to early adversity from the mother to the fetus. Finally, we argue that basic research knowledge on the biological embedding of early adversity must now be translated into novel intervention strategies that are mechanism-driven and sensitive to developmental timing. Indeed, to date, there are no diagnostic biomarkers of risk or mechanism-informed interventions that we can offer to victims of early adversity in order to efficiently prevent or reverse adverse health outcomes. Such translational efforts can be expected to have significant impact on both clinical practice and the public health system, and will promote precision medicine in pediatrics and across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M. Heim
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany,Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health & Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA,Corresponding authors at: Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany., (C.M. Heim), (S. Entringer), (C. Buss)
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
| | - Claudia Buss
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
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36
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Shamblaw AL, Cardy RE, Prost E, Harkness KL. Abuse as a risk factor for prenatal depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis. Arch Womens Ment Health 2019; 22:199-213. [PMID: 30196369 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-018-0900-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Depression is the most common mental disorder in pregnancy. An important risk factor in the development of prenatal depression is lifetime history of abuse. The current review quantitatively synthesized research on the association between history of abuse and prenatal depressive symptoms using a meta-analytic technique. A total of 3322 articles were identified through electronic searches of the following databases: PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE Cochrane Collaboration databases between the years of 1980 and 2016. All were independently screened against the following inclusion criteria: articles reporting on original data that included measures of prenatal depression and abuse. Data were extracted by the first and second authors. Descriptive analyses were conducted using Excel version 15.32, and all analyses involving effect sizes were conducted using comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) version 3.0. Seventy articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analyses. Meta-bias detected no publication bias. Abuse had a significant positive relation with prenatal depressive symptoms, with effect sizes in the moderate range for any abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.287), physical abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.271), sexual abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.259), and emotional abuse ([Formula: see text] = 0.340; Cohen 1969. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Academic Press, New York). The meta-analyses found a robust relation between abuse and prenatal depressive symptoms holding across a variety of demographic and study design characteristics. These results reinforce the established association between trauma victimization and subsequent psychopathology, extending current knowledge to specifically address the under-studied area of prenatal depression. These findings highlight the need for women who have survived child or adulthood abuse to receive appropriate referral and psychological treatment to mitigate their risk for prenatal depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Shamblaw
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Robyn E Cardy
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Prost
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kate L Harkness
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Parade SH, Newland RP, Bublitz MH, Stroud LR. Maternal witness to intimate partner violence during childhood and prenatal family functioning alter newborn cortisol reactivity. Stress 2019; 22:190-199. [PMID: 30676172 PMCID: PMC6685200 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1501019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood is a risk factor for mental health problems across the lifespan. Less is known about the intergenerational consequences of witnessing IPV, and if the current family climate buffers intergenerational effects of witnessing violence. The mother's experience of witnessing IPV against her own mother during childhood, prenatal family dysfunction, and prenatal perceived stress were examined as predictors of offspring cortisol in the first month of life (N = 218 mother-infant dyads). Mothers reported on witnessing IPV in their childhoods, prenatal family dysfunction, and prenatal perceived stress in pregnancy. At 2 days and again at 1 month postpartum, infants engaged in a neurobehavioral exam to assess infant cortisol reactivity. Infants whose mothers witnessed IPV in childhood exhibited alterations in their baseline cortisol and their cortisol reactivity at 1 month of age, whereas family dysfunction during pregnancy was associated with baseline cortisol and cortisol reactivity at 2 days of age. Prenatal perceived stress was not associated with infant cortisol at 2 days or 1 month. Prenatal family dysfunction and perceived stress did not moderate effects of the mother's experience of witnessing IPV. Results support the view that maternal experiences in childhood and during pregnancy exert intergenerational effects on the HPA stress response system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie H. Parade
- Bradley Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University
| | - Rebecca P. Newland
- Bradley Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University
| | - Margaret H. Bublitz
- Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University
| | - Laura R. Stroud
- Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University
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Graham AM, Rasmussen JM, Entringer S, Ben Ward E, Rudolph MD, Gilmore JH, Styner M, Wadhwa PD, Fair DA, Buss C. Maternal Cortisol Concentrations During Pregnancy and Sex-Specific Associations With Neonatal Amygdala Connectivity and Emerging Internalizing Behaviors. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:172-181. [PMID: 30122286 PMCID: PMC6632079 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal cortisol during pregnancy has the potential to influence rapidly developing fetal brain systems that are commonly altered in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Research examining maternal cortisol concentrations across pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment proximal to birth is needed to advance understanding in this area and lead to insight into the etiology of these disorders. METHODS Participants were 70 adult women recruited during early pregnancy and their infants born after 34 weeks gestation. Maternal cortisol concentrations were assessed serially over 4 days in early, mid, and late gestation. Resting state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging of the neonatal amygdala was examined. Mothers reported on children's internalizing behavior problems at 24 months of age. RESULTS Maternal cortisol concentrations during pregnancy were significantly associated with neonatal amygdala connectivity in a sex-specific manner. Elevated maternal cortisol was associated with stronger amygdala connectivity to brain regions involved in sensory processing and integration, as well as the default mode network in girls, and with weaker connectivity to these brain regions in boys. Elevated maternal cortisol was associated with higher internalizing symptoms in girls only, and this association was mediated by stronger neonatal amygdala connectivity. CONCLUSIONS Normative variation in maternal cortisol during pregnancy is associated with the coordinated functioning of the amygdala soon after birth in a sex-specific manner. The identified pathway from maternal cortisol to higher internalizing symptoms in girls via alterations in neonatal amygdala connectivity may be relevant for the etiology of sex differences in internalizing psychiatric disorders, which are more prevalent in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice M Graham
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jerod M Rasmussen
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Ben Ward
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Marc D Rudolph
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Martin Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Pathik D Wadhwa
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California.
| | - Damien A Fair
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Claudia Buss
- Development, Health and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany
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Hantsoo L, Jašarević E, Criniti S, McGeehan B, Tanes C, Sammel MD, Elovitz MA, Compher C, Wu G, Epperson CN. Childhood adversity impact on gut microbiota and inflammatory response to stress during pregnancy. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 75:240-250. [PMID: 30399404 PMCID: PMC6349044 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse or chronic stress, program an exaggerated adult inflammatory response to stress. Emerging rodent research suggests that the gut microbiome may be a key mediator in the association between early life stress and dysregulated glucocorticoid-immune response. However, ACE impact on inflammatory response to stress, or on the gut microbiome, have not been studied in human pregnancy, when inflammation increases risk of poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships among ACE, the gut microbiome, and cytokine response to stress in pregnant women. METHODS Physically and psychiatrically healthy adult pregnant women completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) and gave a single stool sample between 20 and 26 weeks gestation. Stool DNA was isolated and 16S sequencing was performed. Three 24-hour food recalls were administered to assess dietary nutrient intake. A subset of women completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) at 22-34 weeks gestation; plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cortisol were measured at four timepoints pre and post stressor, and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. RESULTS Forty-eight women completed the ACE-Q and provided stool; 19 women completed the TSST. Women reporting 2 or more ACEs (high ACE) had greater differential abundance of gut Prevotella than low ACE participants (q = 5.7 × 10^-13). Abundance of several gut taxa were significantly associated with cortisol, IL-6, TNF-α and CRP AUCs regardless of ACE status. IL-6 response to stress was buffered among high ACE women with high intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p = 0.03) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (p = 0.05). DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that multiple childhood adversities are associated with changes in gut microbiota composition during pregnancy, and such changes may contribute to altered inflammatory and glucocorticoid response to stress. While preliminary, this is the first study to demonstrate an association between gut microbiota and acute glucocorticoid-immune response to stress in a clinical sample. Finally, exploratory analyses suggested that high ACE women with high dietary intake of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) had a dampened inflammatory response to acute stress, suggesting potentially protective effects of ω-3s in this high-risk population. Given the adverse effects of inflammation on pregnancy and the developing fetus, mechanisms by which childhood adversity influence the gut-brain axis and potential protective factors such as diet should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Hantsoo
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
| | - Eldin Jašarević
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W Baltimore St. HSF3, 9-173, Baltimore, MD 21201
| | - Stephanie Criniti
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Brendan McGeehan
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Ceylan Tanes
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
| | - Mary D. Sammel
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 423 Guardian Drive, 605 Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Michal A. Elovitz
- Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 421 Curie Blvd., 1354 BRB II/III Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Charlene Compher
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 137 Claire Fagin Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Gary Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 915 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - C. Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Slopen N, Roberts AL, LeWinn KZ, Bush NR, Rovnaghi CR, Tylavsky F, Anand KJS. Maternal experiences of trauma and hair cortisol in early childhood in a prospective cohort. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 98:168-176. [PMID: 30170311 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Maternal trauma can have intergenerational consequences but little is known about whether maternal traumas affect key biological domains associated with mental health in their offspring. The objective of this study was to examine maternal lifetime history of traumatic events through mid-gestation in relation to offspring cortisol production in early childhood. METHODS The sample was comprised of 660 children (49.9% Black, 44.4% White) from a longitudinal study of mother-offspring dyads in Shelby County, Tennessee, followed from mid-gestation to child age 4 years (enrolled 2006-2011). Maternal lifetime history of traumatic life events were assessed mid-gestation using the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire. Total cortisol output among offspring was measured using hair cortisol concentrations at ages 1 to 4 years. RESULTS Associations of maternal trauma history with child hair cortisol varied by child's age. No association was observed at age 1 or 2. In adjusted regression models, at ages 3 and 4, offspring of mothers in the third (β = 0.99, P < .01), fourth (β=0.72, P < .05), and fifth (β=0.83, P < .01) quintiles of trauma exposure history had elevated (natural log) hair cortisol concentrations, relative to mothers in the lowest quintile (P-trend = 0.003). The associations were not attenuated after adjustment for theorized pathways, including premature birth, maternal postpartum depression, and maternal parenting stress. CONCLUSIONS Maternal lifetime trauma exposures are associated with offspring hair cortisol concentrations. Future research is needed to determine intermediary mechanisms and functional significance of elevated hair cortisol concentration in young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Slopen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MA, United States.
| | - Andrea L Roberts
- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia R Rovnaghi
- Pain/Stress Neurobiology Lab, Child Health Research Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Frances Tylavsky
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Kanwaljeet J S Anand
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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Social buffering of the maternal and infant HPA axes: Mediation and moderation in the intergenerational transmission of adverse childhood experiences. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 30:921-939. [PMID: 30068422 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579418000512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Supportive social relationships can reduce both psychological and physiological responses to stressful experiences. Recently, studies have also assessed the potential for social relationships to buffer the intergenerational transmission of stress. The majority of these studies, however, have focussed on social learning as a mechanism responsible for the intergenerational transmission of stress. Evidence of biological mechanisms is lacking. The objective of the current study was, therefore, to determine whether the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and infant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function is mediated by maternal HPA axis function during pregnancy and moderated by social support. Data were from 243 mother-infant dyads enrolled in a prospective longitudinal cohort (the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition Study). Maternal history of ACEs was retrospectively assessed while maternal perceived social support and salivary cortisol were assessed prospectively at 6-22 weeks gestation (Time 1) and 27-37 weeks gestation (Time 2), and infant cortisol reactivity to a laboratory stressor and maternal perceived social support were assessed at 5-10 months postnatal (Time 3). Results revealed that maternal HPA axis function during pregnancy mediated the effects of maternal ACEs on infant HPA axis reactivity, suggesting that the maternal HPA axis is a mechanism by which maternal early life stress is transmitted to offspring. Furthermore, social support in the prenatal and postnatal periods moderated the cascade from maternal ACEs to infant HPA axis reactivity. Specifically, prenatal social support moderated the association between ACEs and maternal HPA axis function during pregnancy, and postnatal social support moderated the association between maternal HPA axis function and infant cortisol reactivity. These findings highlight the social sensitivity of the HPA axis and suggest the utility of social relationships as an intervention target to reduce the effects of maternal early life stress on infant outcomes.
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Swales DA, Stout-Oswald SA, Glynn LM, Sandman C, Wing DA, Davis EP. Exposure to traumatic events in childhood predicts cortisol production among high risk pregnant women. Biol Psychol 2018; 139:186-192. [PMID: 30359722 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Childhood exposure to traumatic events has a profound and disruptive impact on mental and physical health, including stress physiology. In the current study, we evaluate 90 pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery and assess the association between history of exposure to traumatic events and hair cortisol concentrations, an integrated measure of cortisol production. Exposure to more traumatic events in childhood and in adulthood independently predicted elevated hair cortisol concentrations in pregnancy. Notably, the impact of childhood exposure to traumatic events remained after accounting for more proximal traumatic events in adulthood. Further, there was a significant interaction between childhood and adult exposures. Traumatic experiences in adulthood were more strongly associated with hair cortisol concentrations among mothers with a history of greater childhood trauma. Findings suggest that not only do proximal adult exposures impact HPA-axis functioning during pregnancy, but that childhood traumatic experiences have persisting consequences for HPA-axis functioning during pregnancy. Maternal HPA-axis dysregulation in pregnancy has consequences for both maternal health and for fetal development. Therefore, we consider prenatal maternal HPA-axis functioning as a potential biological pathway underlying intergenerational consequences of childhood trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura M Glynn
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Curt Sandman
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Deborah A Wing
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver CO, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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The effect of gestational period on the association between maternal prenatal salivary cortisol and birth weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 94:49-62. [PMID: 29754005 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies exploring the relations between maternal stress and fetal development show an association between increased maternal stress and adverse birth outcomes. A frequently proposed mechanism linking maternal prenatal stress and adverse birth outcomes is heightened concentrations of maternal cortisol. To date, studies exploring this association have reported conflicting results because of the diverse approaches taken to measuring cortisol and the wide variety of possible birth outcomes explored. To add clarity to the growing body of literature, this systematic review and meta-analysis reports empirical findings on the association between maternal prenatal salivary cortisol and newborn birth weight. METHODS Searches for relevant papers published up until November 2017 were run in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Non-English language papers were included and experts were contacted when necessary. We included data from human observational studies that were designed or had an underlying intention to measure maternal prenatal salivary cortisol and newborn birth weight. We only included data from measurements of salivary cortisol to prevent rendering of the review unsuitable for meta-analysis. Two independent reviewers assessed study eligibility and quality. For every maternal-fetal dyad, an area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) of maternal cortisol was calculated to determine a Pearson's correlation coefficient with a continuous measure of newborn birth weight. Correlation coefficients were then pooled across all stages of gestation. To examine if there are critical gestational periods in which the fetus may be more susceptible to elevated concentration of maternal salivary cortisol, a meta-analysis was performed on separate correlations calculated from gestational trimesters. RESULTS Nine studies with a total of 1606 maternal-fetal dyads demonstrated a negative correlation between pooled maternal salivary cortisol and birth weight (-0.24, 95% CI -0.28 to -0.20), but there was a high degree of heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 88.9%). To investigate heterogeneity, subgroup analysis by trimester of the pooled correlation between salivary cortisol and birth weight was performed with the following correlations found: first trimester, -0.18 (95% CI -0.32 to -0.03, I2 = 97.3%); second trimester, -0.20 (95% CI -0.28 to -0.12, I2 = 98.3%); and third trimester, -0.30 (95% CI -0.33 to -0.26, I2 = 85.4%). DISCUSSION A consistently negative association was observed between maternal cortisol and infant birth weight. The review highlights specific gaps in the literature on the relationship between maternal prenatal salivary cortisol and newborn birth weight. Although a significant negative correlation was found, substantial heterogeneity of effects and the likelihood of publication bias exist. The third trimester was revealed as a possible critical gestational period for heightened maternal cortisol concentration to affect birth weight. Challenges faced in this body of research and recommendations for future research are discussed.
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Abstract
Objectives: To investigate whether serum levels of cortisol, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 differed between children with or without a sexual trauma. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Child Protective Service (CPS), Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey, between May 2016 and July 2016. Three different markers (cortisol, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10) were used to perform this experiment. We included 17 children age less than 18 years old and sexually abused, and 10 children who were not abused as a control group. The levels of cortisol, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 were measured in blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The results of the experiment were statistically analyzed. Results: The findings indicate that serum levels of interleukin-6 were higher in the sexually abused children compared with the control group (p=0.002). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of cortisol (p=0.604) and interleukin-10 (p=0.835) between the sexually abused children and the control group. Conclusion No significant differences were seen between the patients with or without sexual assault in terms of cortisol and IL-10 levels. It is found that in age-matched controls, SAC had higher IL-6 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serbülent Kılıç
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. E-mail.
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Thomas JC, Magel C, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Madigan S, Letourneau N, Campbell TS, Giesbrecht GF. Adverse childhood experiences and HPA axis function in pregnant women. Horm Behav 2018; 102:10-22. [PMID: 29630895 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna C Thomas
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Chantelle Magel
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sheri Madigan
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, & Cumming School of Medicine (Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Community Health Sciences), University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Tavis S Campbell
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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Stephenson LA, Beck K, Busuulwa P, Rosan C, Pariante CM, Pawlby S, Sethna V. Perinatal interventions for mothers and fathers who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 80:9-31. [PMID: 29558671 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide problem with severe long-term consequences. A history of CSA can impact the childbearing experience of mothers and fathers; affecting their mental health, parenting skills and compromising infant development. Nonetheless, the perinatal period offers huge opportunity for intervention and hope. This literature review collates evidence for perinatal psychosocial interventions targeting both mothers and fathers who are survivors of CSA. Publications dating from 1970 to June 2016 were searched using Medline, Maternity and Infant Health, PsychINFO, PsychArticles, PubMed and the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS). There were no perinatal interventions that considered the needs of survivor fathers. Sixteen publications on 9 psychosocial perinatal interventions for CSA survivors were identified. However, no sub-analyses specific to CSA survivors were reported. Trauma-specific perinatal interventions drew from a range of theoretical models and varied widely in format. Generally interventions were associated with improvements in maternal mental health, parenting competence, infant attachment security and positive public health outcomes. They were safe and feasible to implement, acceptable to parents and therapist, and therapists were able to implement protocols with adequate fidelity. Yet current data is hampered by small sample size, inconsistent reporting of CSA rates and outcome measures, scarcity of observational data and longer-term follow-up. Intervention modifications are proposed for CSA survivors in view of their unique childbearing experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy A Stephenson
- South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust/Institute Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Katherine Beck
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Paula Busuulwa
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, UK
| | - Camilla Rosan
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, UK
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Lab. & Perinatal Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Susan Pawlby
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Lab. & Perinatal Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Vaheshta Sethna
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Lab. & Perinatal Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.
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Fogelman N, Canli T. Early life stress and cortisol: A meta-analysis. Horm Behav 2018; 98:63-76. [PMID: 29289660 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Given the high prevalence of early life stress (ELS) and the potential physiological dysregulation such experiences can lead to, this meta-analysis tested the relationship between ELS and cortisol. Search terms related to ELS and cortisol were entered in to PsycINFO and PubMed. Effect sizes were extracted for four outcomes variables: cortisol awakening response (CAR), baseline cortisol (cortisol at one time point), non-stressed cortisol over time (cortisol captured at two or more time points), and cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor. The articles were additionally coded for potential confounding variables, population-related, ELS-related and cortisol-related moderators. There was no significant relationship between ELS and the CAR (g=0.19, p=0.268), ELS and baseline cortisol (g=-0.072, p=0.328), ELS and non-stressed cortisol over time (g=0.09, p=0.292) or ELS and cortisol reactivity (g=-0.089, p=0.363). However, there was a significant amount of heterogeneity amongst relationships. Within the ELS-CAR relationship, in those who had experienced ELS that was sexually, physically or emotionally abusive, the CAR was heightened. Within the ELS-Baseline relationship, if blood samples were collected the ELS was associated with a blunting effect of cortisol. The non-significant main effects challenge the commonly held belief in the literature that ELS affects cortisol later in life. However, the high degree of heterogeneity uncovered by this analysis and significant moderators suggest that the literature may benefit from consistent operationalizations of ELS and standardized methods of how cortisol is measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nia Fogelman
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
| | - Turhan Canli
- Department of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Moog NK, Entringer S, Rasmussen JM, Styner M, Gilmore JH, Kathmann N, Heim C, Wadhwa PD, Buss C. Intergenerational Effect of Maternal Exposure to Childhood Maltreatment on Newborn Brain Anatomy. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:120-127. [PMID: 28842114 PMCID: PMC5723537 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment (CM) confers deleterious long-term consequences, and growing evidence suggests some of these effects may be transmitted across generations. We examined the intergenerational effect of maternal CM exposure on child brain structure and also addressed the hypothesis that this effect may start during the child's intrauterine period of life. METHODS A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a clinical convenience sample of 80 mother-child dyads. Maternal CM exposure was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Structural magnetic resonance imaging was employed to characterize newborn global and regional brain (tissue) volumes near the time of birth. RESULTS CM exposure was reported by 35% of the women. Maternal CM exposure was associated with lower child intracranial volume (F1,70 = 6.84, p = .011), which was primarily due to a global difference in cortical gray matter (F1,70 = 9.10, p = .004). The effect was independent of potential confounding variables, including maternal socioeconomic status, obstetric complications, obesity, recent interpersonal violence, pre- and early postpartum stress, gestational age at birth, infant sex, and postnatal age at magnetic resonance imaging scan. The observed group difference between offspring of CM-exposed mothers versus nonexposed mothers was 6%. CONCLUSIONS These findings represent the first report to date associating maternal CM exposure with variation in newborn brain structure. These observations support our hypothesis of intergenerational transmission of the effects of maternal CM exposure on child brain development and suggest this effect may originate during the child's intrauterine period of life, which may have downstream neurodevelopmental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora K. Moog
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonja Entringer
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany.,University of California, Irvine, Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, Orange, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Jerod M. Rasmussen
- University of California, Irvine, Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, Orange, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Martin Styner
- Departments of Psychiatry and Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John H. Gilmore
- Departments of Psychiatry and Computer Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Norbert Kathmann
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Heim
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, College of Health and Human Development, PA, USA
| | - Pathik D. Wadhwa
- University of California, Irvine, Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, Orange, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Buss
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California.
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Quevedo K, Doty J, Roos L, Anker JJ. The cortisol awakening response and anterior cingulate cortex function in maltreated depressed versus non-maltreated depressed youth. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 86:87-95. [PMID: 28926761 PMCID: PMC5896765 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Symptomatology of depression among children who have (vs. have not) experienced maltreatment is greater in severity, more resistant to conventional treatment, and associated with elevated risk for suicide. Recent evidence implicates perturbations in stress regulatory systems and heightened negative self-appraisals as factors that increase the severity of psychopathology experienced by depressed maltreated (vs. non-maltreated) youth. Likely explanatory mechanisms for these differences are disturbances in the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) and persistent negative self-referential biases supported by prefrontal cortex function including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). The cortisol awakening response (CAR) and dACC activity during a self-appraisal task were assessed in maltreated and non-maltreated depressed youth. Hierarchical linear models were employed to model the CAR. Maltreatment group, dACC activity during positive and negative self-appraisals as well as other key predictors, were included in the models. Post hoc analyses explored explanations for significant differences. Results indicated that maltreated depressed youth exhibited a higher CAR compared to non-maltreated youth. At low levels of dACC activity during processing of negative self-descriptors maltreated and non-maltreated depressed youth's CAR did not differ. However, at elevated levels of dACC activity during processing of negative self-descriptors maltreated depressed youth exhibited significantly higher CAR compared to non-maltreated depressed youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Quevedo
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Jennifer Doty
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Leslie Roos
- University of Oregon, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Justin J Anker
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Exposure to child abuse (CA) is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma and allergies; it is unknown if that risk is present across generations. This study investigated if 2-year-old children born to mothers with a history of CA were at an increased risk of receiving a diagnosis of asthma or allergies. METHODS Data from 1,551 participants were collected as part of the All Our Babies (AOB) study, a prospective pregnancy cohort. During pregnancy, each woman provided information about her own history of CA, and at 24 months postpartum, she provided information about her child's medical diagnoses. Symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety were assessed during pregnancy and at 24 months postpartum. RESULTS Unadjusted models showed that compared to children born to mothers without a history of CA, 2-year-old children born to mothers with a history of CA were more likely to have had a diagnosis of asthma (7.4% vs 4.2%, p = .016) or allergy (15.6% vs 9.2%, p < .001). Maternal symptoms of depression assessed in late pregnancy and symptoms of depression and anxiety at 24 months postpartum were significant mediators of the relationship between maternal CA and 2-year-old asthma diagnosis. Maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety assessed in late pregnancy were also significant mediators of the relationship between maternal CA and 2-year-old allergy diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that maternal exposure to CA is associated with increased risk of asthma and allergy in their 2-year-old children; symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety were identified as pathways linking the variables.
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