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Vai B, Calesella F, Pelucchi A, Riberto M, Poletti S, Bechi M, Cavallaro R, Francesco B. Adverse childhood experiences differently affect Theory of Mind brain networks in schizophrenia and healthy controls. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 172:81-89. [PMID: 38367321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia (SZ) show impairments in both affective and cognitive dimensions of theory of mind (ToM). SZ are also particularly vulnerable to detrimental effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), influencing the overall course of the disorder and fostering poor social functioning. ACE associate with long-lasting detrimental effects on brain structure, function, and connectivity in regions involved in ToM. Here, we investigated whether ToM networks are differentially affected by ACEs in healthy controls (HC) and SZ, and if these effects can predict the disorder clinical outcome. 26 HC and 33 SZ performed a ToM task during an fMRI session. Whole-brain functional response and connectivity (FC) were extracted, investigating the interaction between ACEs and diagnosis. FC values significantly affected by ACEs were entered in a cross-validated LASSO regression predicting Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and task performance. ACEs and diagnosis showed a widespread interaction at both affective and cognitive tasks, including connectivity between vmPFC, ACC, precentral and postcentral gyri, insula, PCC, precuneus, parahippocampal gyrus, temporal pole, thalamus, and cerebellum, and functional response in the ACC, thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus and putamen. FC predicted the PANSS score, the fantasy dimension of IRI, and the AToM response latency. Our results highlight the crucial role of early stress in differentially shaping ToM related brain networks in HC and SZ. These effects can also partially explain the clinical and behavioral outcomes of the disorder, extending our knowledge of the effects of ACEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Vai
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy.
| | - Federico Calesella
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Alice Pelucchi
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Riberto
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Poletti
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Margherita Bechi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Cavallaro
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Benedetti Francesco
- Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
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Moon H, Nam G, Hur JW. Neural correlates of affective theory of mind in medication-free nonsuicidal self-injury: An fMRI study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:850794. [PMID: 35935406 PMCID: PMC9354394 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.850794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that emotion processing deficits are associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, limited attention has been paid to the socio-affective functions of NSSI. In this study, we aimed to investigate the affective theory of mind (ToM) in medication-free individuals engaging in NSSI at both behavioral and neural levels. Twenty-eight individuals (mean age = 22.96 years) who engaged in NSSI and 38 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched controls (mean age = 22.79 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing the "Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test" (RMET). All participants also completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI). Although we did not find significant group differences in the RMET performance, the NSSI group, relative to the controls, exhibited significantly greater left medial superior frontal lobe activation and decreased right angular gyrus activation than did the control group. Reduced right angular gyrus activity was related to higher DERS and TAS scores across all participants. Our findings provide new evidence for aberrant neural processing of affective ToM in self-injurers. Future studies in developing intervention protocols for NSSI should focus on the multifaceted phases of socio-affective processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeri Moon
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gieun Nam
- Department of Psychology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji-Won Hur
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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Mirman A, Bick AS, Kalla C, Canetti L, Segman R, Dan R, Ben Yehuda A, Levin N, Bonne O. The imprint of childhood adversity on emotional processing in high functioning young adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:615-625. [PMID: 33125770 PMCID: PMC7814751 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been acknowledged as risk factors for increased mental health complications in adulthood, specifically increasing susceptibility to developing psychopathology upon exposure to trauma. Yet, little is known regarding the impact of mild ACEs on highly functioning population. In this study forty participants were selected from a group of 366 highly selected military parachute trainees using the self-report "childhood trauma questionnaire," and classified into two groups of 20 each, with and without ACEs. Behavioral measurements were obtained before and at the peak of an intensive combat training period, including anxiety, depression and executive function assessment. Functional MRI including a negative emotional face perception task was conducted at the first time point. Psychometric and cognitive measurements revealed higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and more difficulties in executive functioning in the ACE group at baseline. Slower reaction time to emotional faces presentation was found in the ACE group. Lower activation in response to negative emotional faces stimuli was found in this group in bilateral secondary visual areas, left anterior insula, left parietal cortex and left primary motor and sensory regions. In contrast, higher activation in the ACE group was found in the right ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (Vlpfc). No significant differences between groups were detected in the amygdala. To conclude, mild adverse childhood experiences produce long-term sequela on psychological wellbeing and neurocircuitry even in high functioning population. Brain regions modulated by childhood trauma may instigate avoidance mechanisms dampening the emotional and cognitive effects of intensive stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron Mirman
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of NeurologyHadassah‐Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
- Department of PsychiatryHadassah‐Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
| | - Atira S. Bick
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of NeurologyHadassah‐Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
| | - Carmel Kalla
- Department of Mental HealthIsrael Defense ForcesRamat‐GanIsrael
| | - Laura Canetti
- Department of PsychologyHebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Ronen Segman
- Molecular Psychiatry LaboratoryHadassah‐Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
| | - Rotem Dan
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC)Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
- Department of NeurologyHadassah Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
| | | | - Netta Levin
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of NeurologyHadassah‐Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
| | - Omer Bonne
- Department of PsychiatryHadassah‐Hebrew University Medical CenterJerusalemIsrael
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Guo J, Fu M, Liu D, Zhang B, Wang X, van IJzendoorn MH. Is the psychological impact of exposure to COVID-19 stronger in adolescents with pre-pandemic maltreatment experiences? A survey of rural Chinese adolescents. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 110:104667. [PMID: 32859393 PMCID: PMC7440157 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2019, it has evolved into a global pandemic with tremendous mental health impact besides the threats to people's physical health. OBJECTIVE The aims were to examine whether exposure to COVID-19 predicts elevated levels of anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms and whether pre-pandemic maltreatment experiences exacerbate this impact on mental health in adolescents. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The survey was conducted online from February 8 st to February 27th, 2020, and the questionnaires were distributed and retrieved through a web-based platform. This study includes a total of 6196 subjects, aged range from 11 to 18 years old. METHODS Several multivariable linear regressions were used to analyse the data. RESULTS The largest variance in PTSS and anxiety problems was explained by ACEs, with more pre-pandemic maltreatment experiences predicting more PTSS (effect size beta = 0.16∼0.27), and more anxiety (effect size beta = 0.32∼0.47). Experienced or subjective fear of exposure to COVID-19 predicted statistically significant variance in PTSS and anxiety, and standardized betas ranged from 0.04 to 0.09. Participants who had adverse childhood experiences and had experienced exposure to COVID-19 showed elevated PTSS. CONCLUSIONS After pre-pandemic maltreatment experiences the impact of exposure to COVID-19 on mental health may be stronger. Scars from the past seem to be vulnerabilities during societal upheaval. We therefore suggest that when exposed to COVID-19 rural adolescents should get prioritized professional family support and mental health counseling in particular when they have experienced family abuse and neglect in childhood, even though such support is more difficult to organize in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Guo
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, 100191, Beijing, China
| | - Mingqi Fu
- Center for Social Security Studies, Wuhan University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Danxia Liu
- School of Sociology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Neurology and ICCTR Biostatistics and Research Design Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
| | - Marinus H van IJzendoorn
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, 100048, Beijing, China; School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0SR, Cambridge, UK
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Poletti S, Melloni E, Mazza E, Vai B, Benedetti F. Gender-specific differences in white matter microstructure in healthy adults exposed to mild stress. Stress 2020; 23:116-124. [PMID: 31452451 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2019.1657823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a powerful moderator of brain plasticity and may affect several physiological functions such as the endocrine and the immune system. The impact of stress can be protective or detrimental according to several factors such as level of the stressor and age of occurrence. Also, the impact may differ in males and females. We aim to analyze the effect of mild levels of early and recent stress on white matter microstructure in healthy volunteers. MRI acquisition of diffusion tensor images with a 3.0 T scanner was performed on 130 healthy subjects (71 males and 59 females). Severity of early and recent stress was rated, respectively, on the Risky Families Questionnaire and on the Schedule of Recent Experiences; subjects were divided into low stress and mild stress groups. Mild early stress associated with lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cingulate gyrus compared to low early stress. Females reported reduced FA compared to males in the low-stress group in the internal capsule, posterior corona radiata, posterior thalamic radiation, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and sagittal stratum whereas no difference was observed in the mild stress group. An additive effect of early and recent stress was observed in posterior corona radiata, retrolenticular part of the internal capsule, and superior longitudinal fasciculus. The impact of early stress on WM microstructure in healthy subjects is different in males and females. While males seem to be more sensitive to early stress, an additive effect of early and recent stress manifests itself in females.Layman summaryMild levels of early stress associate with lower white matter integrity measured by fractional anisotropy.Females and males show differences in white matter integrity when exposed to low levels of early stress with females showing lower white matter integrity compared to males.No difference in white matter integrity was observed for males and females exposed to mild levels of stress.Mild stress in females is associated with higher white matter integrity.Males seem to be more sensitive to early stress while females are more affected when early stress is followed by stress in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Poletti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Melloni
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Mazza
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Vai
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Benedetti
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Boccadoro S, Siugzdaite R, Hudson AR, Maeyens L, Van Hamme C, Mueller SC. Women with early maltreatment experience show increased resting-state functional connectivity in the theory of mind (ToM) network. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2019; 10:1647044. [PMID: 31489136 PMCID: PMC6713145 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2019.1647044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Experience of childhood maltreatment significantly increases the risk for the development of psychopathology and is associated with impairments in socio-cognitive skills including theory-of-mind (ToM). In turn, neural alterations in ToM processing might then influence future interpersonal interaction and social-emotional understanding. Objective: To assess resting-state activity in the theory-of-mind network in traumatized and non-traumatized persons. Methods: Thirty-five women with a history of childhood maltreatment and 31 unaffected women completed a resting-state scan and a ToM localizer task. The peak coordinates from the localizer were used as the seed regions for the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analyses (temporo-parietal junction, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus and precuneus). Results: Child abuse was associated with increased RSFC between various ToM regions including the precuneus and the brainstem suggesting altered hierarchical processing in ToM regions. Number of types of abuse was driving the effect for the temporo-parietal junction and the brainstem, while the severity of abuse was linked to increased RSFC between the middle temporal gyrus and the frontal cortex. Post-hoc analyses of brainstem regions indicated the involvement of the serotonergic system (dorsal raphe). Conclusions: The data indicate a lasting impact of childhood maltreatment on the neural networks involved in social information processing that are integral to understanding others' emotional states. Indeed, such altered neural networks may account for some of the interpersonal difficulties victims of childhood maltreatment experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Boccadoro
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roma Siugzdaite
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anna R. Hudson
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lien Maeyens
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Van Hamme
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven C. Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Moreno-Rius J. The cerebellum under stress. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 54:100774. [PMID: 31348932 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Stress-related psychiatric conditions are one of the main causes of disability in developed countries. They account for a large portion of resource investment in stress-related disorders, become chronic, and remain difficult to treat. Research on the neurobehavioral effects of stress reveals how changes in certain brain areas, mediated by a number of neurochemical messengers, markedly alter behavior. The cerebellum is connected with stress-related brain areas and expresses the machinery required to process stress-related neurochemical mediators. Surprisingly, it is not regarded as a substrate of stress-related behavioral alterations, despite numerous studies that show cerebellar responsivity to stress. Therefore, this review compiles those studies and proposes a hypothesis for cerebellar function in stressful conditions, relating it to stress-induced psychopathologies. It aims to provide a clearer picture of stress-related neural circuitry and stimulate cerebellum-stress research. Consequently, it might contribute to the development of improved treatment strategies for stress-related disorders.
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