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Zhu N, Ye Y, Li C, Wang R, Kong F. Childhood Maltreatment and Gratitude: A Multilevel, Meta-Analytic Review. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024; 25:1496-1510. [PMID: 37439187 DOI: 10.1177/15248380231185305] [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: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
During the past decade, research on the association between childhood maltreatment (CM) and gratitude has been accumulating, but there is a lack of systematic, quantitative evaluation of existing literature. The present systematic review aims to fill this gap by conducting a three-level meta-analysis. After a comprehensive search in five English and three Chinese databases, we retrieved 33 effect sizes from 16 studies with a total sample of 13,818 participants. The results showed that CM (aggregated across forms) was negatively and moderately linked to gratitude (r = -.311, 95% CI [-0.382, -0.235], p < .001). Childhood neglect (i.e., physical and emotional neglect) exhibited more substantial effects on gratitude than emotional abuse, while the effects of childhood physical and sexual abuse were insignificant. In addition, the mean effect sizes were larger in studies with younger samples. However, the effect did not vary as functions of CM measurement, methodological rigor, whether the sample included college students only, publication type, or region of the sample. Last, we highlighted the limitations of existing research, proposed agendas for future studies, and discussed practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ying Ye
- Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | | | | | - Feng Kong
- Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
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2
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Tomoda A, Nishitani S, Takiguchi S, Fujisawa TX, Sugiyama T, Teicher MH. The neurobiological effects of childhood maltreatment on brain structure, function, and attachment. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01779-y. [PMID: 38466395 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01779-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for psychopathologies, and influences brain development at specific periods, particularly during early childhood and adolescence. This narrative review addresses phenotypic alterations in sensory systems associated with specific types of childhood maltreatment exposure, periods of vulnerability to the neurobiological effects of maltreatment, and the relationships between childhood maltreatment and brain structure, function, connectivity, and network architecture; psychopathology; and resilience. It also addresses neurobiological alterations associated with maternal communication and attachment disturbances, and uses laboratory-based measures during infancy and case-control studies to elucidate neurobiological alterations in reactive attachment disorders in children with maltreatment histories. Moreover, we review studies on the acute effects of oxytocin on reactive attachment disorder and maltreatment and methylation of oxytocin regulatory genes. Epigenetic changes may play a critical role in initiating or producing the atypical structural and functional brain alterations associated with childhood maltreatment. However, these changes could be reversed through psychological and pharmacological interventions, and by anticipating or preventing the emergence of brain alterations and subsequent psychopathological risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akemi Tomoda
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan.
- Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan.
| | - Shota Nishitani
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
- Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Takiguchi
- Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan
| | - Takashi X Fujisawa
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
- Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Toshiro Sugiyama
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka-Shimoaizuki, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan
- Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan
| | - Martin H Teicher
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Jin X, Xu B, Xu R, Yin X, Yan S, Zhang Y, Jin H. The influence of childhood emotional neglect experience on brain dynamic functional connectivity in young adults. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2258723. [PMID: 37736668 PMCID: PMC10519269 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2258723] [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: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Childhood emotional neglect (CEN) confers a great risk for developing multiple psychiatric disorders; however, the neural basis for this association remains unknown. Using a dynamic functional connectivity approach, this study aimed to examine the effects of CEN experience on functional brain networks in young adults.Method: In total, 21 healthy young adults with CEN experience and 26 without childhood trauma experience were recruited. The childhood trauma experience was assessed using the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), and eligible participants underwent resting-state functional MRI. Sliding windows and k-means clustering were used to identify temporal features of large-scale functional connectivity states (frequency, mean dwell time, and transition numbers).Result: Dynamic analysis revealed two separate connection states: state 1 was more frequent and characterized by extensive weak connections between the brain regions. State 2 was relatively infrequent and characterized by extensive strong connections between the brain regions. Compared to the control group, the CEN group had a longer mean dwell time in state 1 and significantly decreased transition numbers between states 1 and 2.Conclusion: The CEN experience affects the temporal properties of young adults' functional brain connectivity. Young adults with CEN experience tend to be stable in state 1 (extensive weak connections between the brain regions), reducing transitions between states, and reflecting impaired metastability or functional network flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokang Jin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bin Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruitong Xu
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaojuan Yin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shizhen Yan
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hua Jin
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
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Goltermann J, Winter NR, Meinert S, Sindermann L, Lemke H, Leehr EJ, Grotegerd D, Winter A, Thiel K, Waltemate L, Breuer F, Repple J, Gruber M, Richter M, Teckentrup V, Kroemer NB, Brosch K, Meller T, Pfarr JK, Ringwald KG, Stein F, Heindel W, Jansen A, Kircher T, Nenadić I, Dannlowski U, Opel N, Hahn T. Resting-state functional connectivity patterns associated with childhood maltreatment in a large bicentric cohort of adults with and without major depression. Psychol Med 2023; 53:4720-4731. [PMID: 35754405 PMCID: PMC10388325 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722001623] [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: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment (CM) represents a potent risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD), including poorer treatment response. Altered resting-state connectivity in the fronto-limbic system has been reported in maltreated individuals. However, previous results in smaller samples differ largely regarding localization and direction of effects. METHODS We included healthy and depressed samples [n = 624 participants with MDD; n = 701 healthy control (HC) participants] that underwent resting-state functional MRI measurements and provided retrospective self-reports of maltreatment using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. A-priori defined regions of interest [ROI; amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)] were used to calculate seed-to-voxel connectivities. RESULTS No significant associations between maltreatment and resting-state connectivity of any ROI were found across MDD and HC participants and no interaction effect with diagnosis became significant. Investigating MDD patients only yielded maltreatment-associated increased connectivity between the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal areas [pFDR < 0.001; η2partial = 0.050; 95%-CI (0.023-0.085)]. This effect was robust across various sensitivity analyses and was associated with concurrent and previous symptom severity. Particularly strong amygdala-frontal associations with maltreatment were observed in acutely depressed individuals [n = 264; pFDR < 0.001; η2partial = 0.091; 95%-CI (0.038-0.166)). Weaker evidence - not surviving correction for multiple ROI analyses - was found for altered supracallosal ACC connectivity in HC individuals associated with maltreatment. CONCLUSIONS The majority of previous resting-state connectivity correlates of CM could not be replicated in this large-scale study. The strongest evidence was found for clinically relevant maltreatment associations with altered adult amygdala-dorsolateral frontal connectivity in depression. Future studies should explore the relevance of this pathway for a maltreated subgroup of MDD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janik Goltermann
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils Ralf Winter
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Susanne Meinert
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Münster, Germany
| | - Lisa Sindermann
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Hannah Lemke
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Elisabeth J. Leehr
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Dominik Grotegerd
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Alexandra Winter
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Katharina Thiel
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Waltemate
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Fabian Breuer
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Jonathan Repple
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Marius Gruber
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Maike Richter
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Vanessa Teckentrup
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nils B. Kroemer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katharina Brosch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tina Meller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Frederike Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Walter Heindel
- University of Münster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tilo Kircher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Igor Nenadić
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils Opel
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
- University of Münster, Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), Münster, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Tim Hahn
- University of Münster, Institute for Translational Psychiatry, Münster, Germany
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5
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Shymanskaya A, Kohn N, Habel U, Wagels L. Brain network changes in adult victims of violence. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1040861. [PMID: 36816407 PMCID: PMC9931748 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1040861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stressful experiences such as violence can affect mental health severely. The effects are associated with changes in structural and functional brain networks. The current study aimed to investigate brain network changes in four large-scale brain networks, the default mode network, the salience network, the fronto-parietal network, and the dorsal attention network in self-identified victims of violence and controls who did not identify themselves as victims. MATERIALS AND METHODS The control group (n = 32) was matched to the victim group (n = 32) by age, gender, and primary psychiatric disorder. Sparse inverse covariance maps were derived from functional resting-state measurements and from T1 weighted structural data for both groups. RESULTS Our data underlined that mostly the salience network was affected in the sample of self-identified victims. In self-identified victims with a current psychiatric diagnosis, the dorsal attention network was mostly affected underlining the potential role of psychopathological alterations on attention-related processes. CONCLUSION The results showed that individuals who identify themselves as victim demonstrated significant differences in all considered networks, both within- and between-network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliaksandra Shymanskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Brain Structure and Function, INM-10, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nils Kohn
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmengen, Netherlands
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Brain Structure and Function, INM-10, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, Germany
| | - Lisa Wagels
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Brain Structure and Function, INM-10, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich Research Centre, Jülich, Germany
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6
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Zhang Q, Wang L, Dong S, Cao L, Wu C, Liu S. Exploring proximal mechanisms behind intergenerational association between maternal childhood abuse and Chinese preschool children's executive function. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 134:105931. [PMID: 36302286 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal personal history of childhood abuse has been found to predict child social-emotional problems; however, little is known about the intergenerational associations between maternal childhood abuse and child cognitive outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aims at examining the intergenerational associations of maternal childhood emotional abuse and physical abuse with child executive functions among Chinese families with preschoolers, and exploring how these associations are mediated by maternal perspective-taking skills and mother-child conflict. METHODS Participants were 309 preschoolers (152 boys) aged 2-6 years and their mothers. Mothers reported on their childhood abuse histories, perspective taking, and mother-child conflict at baseline (T1). Five months later (T2), child executive functions including working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility were assessed using five computerized tasks. RESULTS After controlling for child gender and age, associations with child executive functions were found for maternal childhood emotional abuse, but not physical abuse. Specifically, severer childhood emotional abuse directly predicted lower levels of child cognitive flexibility. Furthermore, chained mediation paths were found from maternal childhood emotional abuse to lower levels of child working memory and inhibitory control through worse maternal perspective taking skills and then more mother-child conflicts. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence for less optimal executive functions among preschoolers with emotionally abused mothers. Developing strategies to resolve the long-lasting impacts of maternal childhood emotional abuse may be important for reducing the risks of being unable to fully achieve the cognitive potentials of the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100101, China
| | - Linan Wang
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Shuyang Dong
- Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lizhi Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chunxia Wu
- Department of Education, Lyuliang University, Lvliang, Shanxi 033000, China
| | - Siman Liu
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
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Pang Y, Zhao S, Li Z, Li N, Yu J, Zhang R, Lu F, Chen H, Wu F, Zheng W, Gao J, Yang Y, Wu H, Wang J. Enduring effect of abuse: Childhood maltreatment links to altered theory of mind network among adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2276-2288. [PMID: 35089635 PMCID: PMC8996351 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) confers a great risk of maladaptive development outcomes later in life, however, the neurobiological mechanism underlying this vulnerability is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term consequences of CM on neural connectivity while controlling for psychiatric conditions, medication, and, substance abuse. A sample including adults with (n = 40) and without CM (n = 50) completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), personality questionnaires, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan were recruited for the current study. The whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) was evaluated using an unbiased, data-driven, multivariate pattern analysis method. Relative to controls, adults with CM suffered a higher level of temperament and impulsivity and showed decreased FC between the insula and superior temporal gyrus (STG) and between inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and middle frontal gyrus, STG, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), while increased FC between IPL and cuneus and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) regions. The FCs of IPL with dACC and SFG were correlated with the anxious and cyclothymic temperament and attentional impulsivity. Moreover, these FCs partially mediated the relationship between CM and attentional impulsivity. Our results suggest that CM has a significant effect on the modulation of FC within theory of mind (ToM) network even decades later in adulthood, and inform a new framework to account for how CM results in the development of impulsivity. The novel findings reveal the neurobiological consequences of CM and provide new clues to the prevention and intervention strategy to reduce the risk of the development of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Pang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Nan Li
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiarui Yu
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fengmei Lu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Heng Chen
- School of medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Fengchun Wu
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Gao
- School of Information and Communication Engineer, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongfeng Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huawang Wu
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaojian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Ross MC, Heilicher M, Cisler JM. Functional imaging correlates of childhood trauma: A qualitative review of past research and emerging trends. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 211:173297. [PMID: 34780877 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Childhood trauma exposure is common and is associated with poor clinical outcomes in adolescence along with mental health and sociodemographic challenges in adulthood. While many strategies exist to investigate the biological imprint of childhood trauma exposure, functional neuroimaging is a robust and growing technology for non-invasive studies of brain activity following traumatic experience and the relationship of childhood trauma exposure with psychopathology, cognition, and behavior. In this review, we discuss three popular approaches for discerning functional neural correlates to early life trauma, including regional activation, bivariate functional connectivity, and network-based connectivity. The breadth of research in each method is discussed, followed by important limitations and considerations for future research. We close by considering emerging trends in functional neuroimaging research of childhood trauma, including the use of complex decision-making tasks to mimic clinically-relevant behaviors, data-driven techniques such as multivariate pattern analysis and whole-brain network topology, and the applications of real-time neurofeedback for treatment of trauma-related mental disorders. We aim for this review to provide a framework for understanding the relationship between atypical neural functioning and adverse outcomes following childhood trauma exposure, with a focus on improving consistency in research methods and translatability of research findings for clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa C Ross
- Northwestern Neighborhood & Network Initiative, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, United States of America.
| | | | - Josh M Cisler
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychiatry
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9
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Sigrist C, Mürner-Lavanchy I, Peschel SKV, Schmidt SJ, Kaess M, Koenig J. Early life maltreatment and resting-state heart rate variability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:307-334. [PMID: 33171141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent focus on the consequences of early life adversity (ELA) in neurobiological research led to a variety of findings suggesting alterations in several physiological systems, such as the cardiovascular system. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we focused on the relationship between early life maltreatment (ELM), one form of ELA, and resting vagal activity indexed by resting-state heart rate variability (HRV). A systematic search of the literature yielded 1'264 hits, of which 32 studies reporting data for group comparisons or correlations were included. By quantitative synthesis of existing studies using random-effect models, we found no evidence for a relationship between ELM exposure and resting vagal activity in principal. Conducting meta-regression analyses, however, we found the relationship between ELM and resting vagal activity to significantly vary as a function of both age and the presence of psychopathology. In light of the current multitude of vastly unclear pathways linking ELM to the onset of disease, we emphasize the need for further research and outline several aspects to consider in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Sigrist
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ines Mürner-Lavanchy
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie K V Peschel
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanie J Schmidt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Section for Translational Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julian Koenig
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Section for Experimental Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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10
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Mueller SC, Hudson AR, Meeus C. Do pictures really say more than a thousand words? A network approach to early traumatic experience and empathic responding. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1804806. [PMID: 33062210 PMCID: PMC7534309 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1804806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Empathy is essential for interpersonal relationships, yet remains difficult to measure. Some evidence suggests that early traumatic experiences leads to alterations in empathic responding. Objective: This study sought to differentiate connections between subtypes of childhood maltreatment, a pictorial test of affective empathy (PET), and self-reported empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index; IRI) by using network analysis approach to investigate the structure of relationships between childhood maltreatment and later empathic responding. Method: 301 participants completed the PET, the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF), the IRI, and questionnaires assessing current mood and perceived stress levels. Results: The PET showed a strong positive association with the IRI subscale empathic concern (EC), after conditioning on all other nodes in the network. EC proved to be a highly central node and was positively related to severity of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), yet not to childhood physical abuse or emotional maltreatment. Pathways between emotional maltreatment and physical abuse and the PET were indirect, passing through self-reported EC and CSA. Conclusions: Our study suggests that CSA more so than other childhood maltreatment experiences is associated with increased self-reported affective empathy, but is not captured directly through a pictorial test of affective empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Personality Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Anna R Hudson
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carmen Meeus
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Cracco E, Hudson AR, Van Hamme C, Maeyens L, Brass M, Mueller SC. Early interpersonal trauma reduces temporoparietal junction activity during spontaneous mentalising. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 15:12-22. [PMID: 32248239 PMCID: PMC7171375 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Experience of interpersonal trauma and violence alters self-other distinction and mentalising abilities (also known as theory of mind, or ToM), yet little is known about their neural correlates. This fMRI study assessed temporoparietal junction (TPJ) activation, an area strongly implicated in interpersonal processing, during spontaneous mentalising in 35 adult women with histories of childhood physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse (childhood abuse; CA) and 31 women without such experiences (unaffected comparisons; UC). Participants watched movies during which an agent formed true or false beliefs about the location of a ball, while participants always knew the true location of the ball. As hypothesised, right TPJ activation was greater for UCs compared to CAs for false vs true belief conditions. In addition, CAs showed increased functional connectivity relative to UCs between the rTPJ and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Finally, the agent's belief about the presence of the ball influenced participants' responses (ToM index), but without group differences. These findings highlight that experiencing early interpersonal trauma can alter brain areas involved in the neural processing of ToM and perspective-taking during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiel Cracco
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anna R Hudson
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Van Hamme
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lien Maeyens
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marcel Brass
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
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