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Hoffmann F, Heim C. [Emotional Abuse in Childhood and Adolescence: Biological Embedding and Clinical Implications]. Prax Kinderpsychol Kinderpsychiatr 2024; 73:4-27. [PMID: 38275227 DOI: 10.13109/prkk.2024.73.1.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Emotional abuse, defined as degrading, manipulative, or neglectful behaviors by caregivers, represents a common adverse experience for children and adolescents, often co-occurring with other maltreatment types. Exposure to emotional abuse significantly affects mental health across the lifespan and is particularly associated with elevated depression risk.This review examinesmechanisms, by which emotional abuse influences brain development and the neuroendocrine stress response system and discusses the roles of genetic vulnerability and epigenetic processes in contributing to an elevated mental health risk. Emotional abuse has similar effects on brain networks responsible for emotion processing and regulation as other maltreatment types.Moreover, it uniquely affects networks related to self-relevant information and socio-cognitive processes. Furthermore, emotional abuse is associated with an impaired recovery of the neuroendocrine response to acute stress. Similar to other maltreatment types, emotional abuse is associated with epigenetic changes in genes regulating the neuroendocrine stress response system that are implicated in increased mental health risk.These findings suggest that emotional abuse has equally detrimental effects on children'smental health as physical or sexual abuse, warranting broader societal awareness and enhanced early detection efforts. Early interventions should prioritize emotion regulation, social cognition, self-esteemenhancement, and relationship- oriented approaches for victims of emotional abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Hoffmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Gliedkörperschaft der Freien Universität Berlin und der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Medizinische Psychologie Deutschland
| | - Christine Heim
- Institut für Medizinische Psychologie Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Luisenstr. 57 10117 Berlin Deutschland
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Sequeira S, Carmel T, Tervo-Clemmens B, Edmiston EK. Future Directions in the Mental Health of Transgender Youth: Towards a Social-Affective Developmental Model of Health Disparity. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL FOR THE SOCIETY OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, DIVISION 53 2023; 52:866-876. [PMID: 37910433 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2023.2272972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Mental health disparities in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth are well-documented. These disparities are often studied in the context of minority stress theory, and most of this research focuses on experiences of trauma and discrimination TGD youth experience after coming out. However, TGD youth may be targets of violence and victimization due to perceived gender nonconformity before coming out. In this Future Directions, we integrate research on attachment, developmental trauma, and effects of racism and homophobia on mental health to propose a social-affective developmental framework for TGD youth. We provide a clinical vignette to highlight limitations in current approaches to mental health assessment in TGD youth and to illustrate how using a social-affective developmental framework can improve clinical assessment and treatment approaches and deepen our understanding of mental health disparities in TGD people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tamar Carmel
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Richmond
| | | | - E Kale Edmiston
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine
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Garon-Bissonnette J, Dubois-Comtois K, St-Laurent D, Berthelot N. A deeper look at the association between childhood maltreatment and reflective functioning. Attach Hum Dev 2023; 25:368-389. [PMID: 37131288 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2023.2207558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment is theorized as impeding the development of reflective functioning (RF; ability to perceive and interpret oneself and others in terms of mental states). However, previous research typically failed to support this association or yielded small sized and mixed associations. This study aims to provide a deeper look at the association between childhood maltreatment and RF by characterizing two non-mentalizing categories. One-hundred-and-sixteen pregnant women (mean age = 27.62, SD = 4.52) from the community (48.3% with a university degree, 96.5% in a relationship with the other parent) retrospectively reported on childhood abuse and neglect using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. They also participated in the Adult Attachment Interview subsequently coded using the Reflective Functioning Scale. Participants with poor to low RF were allocated to one of two groups (disavowal-distancing or distorted-inconsistent) using indicators provided in the RF Scale. No association was found between childhood maltreatment and overall RF when controlling for education level. A multinomial logistic regression revealed that childhood maltreatment was strongly predictive of a disrupted, over-analytical and inconsistent reflection about mental states but not of a tendency to discourse little about mental states. This tendency was rather only predicted by education level. Findings suggest that childhood maltreatment would lead to specific impairments in RF and that not considering how individuals fail to mentalize about attachment relationships may mask strong associations between RF and its determinants and correlates, including childhood maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Garon-Bissonnette
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, CAN
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Partner Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montréal, CAN
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, CAN
| | - Karine Dubois-Comtois
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Centre de recherche, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, CAN
| | - Diane St-Laurent
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Centre de recherche universitaire sur les jeunes et les familles (CRUJeF), Québec, CAN
| | - Nicolas Berthelot
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Québec, CAN
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Partner Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montréal, CAN
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, CAN
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, CAN
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Arioli M, Cattaneo Z, Parimbelli S, Canessa N. Relational vs representational social cognitive processing: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging data. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:7003414. [PMID: 36695428 PMCID: PMC9976764 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurocognitive bases of social cognition have been framed in terms of representing others' actions through the mirror system and their mental states via the mentalizing network. Alongside representing another person's actions or mental states, however, social cognitive processing is also shaped by their (mis)match with one's own corresponding states. Here, we addressed the distinction between representing others' states through the action observation or mentalizing networks (i.e. representational processing) and detecting the extent to which such states align with one's own ones (i.e. relational processing, mediated by social conflict). We took a meta-analytic approach to unveil the neural bases of both relational and representational processing by focusing on previously reported brain activations from functional magnetic resonance imaging studies using false-belief and action observation tasks. Our findings suggest that relational processing for belief and action states involves, respectively, the left and right temporo-parietal junction, likely contributing to self-other differentiation. Moreover, distinct sectors of the posterior fronto-medial cortex support social conflict processing for belief and action, possibly through the inhibition of conflictual representations. These data might pave the way for further studies addressing social conflict as an important component of normal and pathological processing, and inform the design of rehabilitative treatments for social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Arioli
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo 24100, Italy
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo 24100, Italy.,IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Simone Parimbelli
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Nicola Canessa
- IUSS Cognitive Neuroscience (ICoN) Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, Pavia 27100, Italy.,Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Pavia Institute, Pavia 27100, Italy
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Jones EE, Kreutzer KA, Manzler CA, Evans EG, Gorka SM. Type of Trauma Exposure Impacts Neural Reactivity to Errors. J PSYCHOPHYSIOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. Studies suggest that individuals with a history of trauma exposure display abnormal reactivity to threat, though the pattern of findings across prior studies has been inconsistent. At least two factors likely contribute to previous discrepant findings: (1) the type of index trauma event and (2) the type of threat paradigm. Accordingly, the current study aimed to examine the impact of trauma type on a specific psychophysiological index of threat sensitivity – error negativity (Ne), also described as error-related negativity (ERN). Young adults were classified into three groups: lifetime history of interpersonal trauma (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, or immediate family violence; n = 30), lifetime history of a non-interpersonal trauma (e.g., accidents, natural disasters; n = 30), or no lifetime history of trauma ( n = 64). All participants completed a well-validated flanker task designed to elicit the Ne/ERN during continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) data collection. Results indicated that individuals with non-interpersonal trauma exposure displayed reduced Ne/ERN amplitude compared with the other two groups (who did not differ from each other). Broadly, these findings highlight the importance of trauma type and theory suggesting different forms of trauma may result in different neurobiological profiles. These findings also add to a growing literature indicating that non-interpersonal traumas may be uniquely associated with blunted threat sensitivity and deficiencies in self-monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kayla A. Kreutzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Charles A. Manzler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Emily G. Evans
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Gorka
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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The effects of developmental trauma on theory of mind and its relationship to psychotic experiences: A behavioural study. Psychiatry Res 2022; 312:114544. [PMID: 35417825 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developmental psychological trauma induces vulnerability to psychosis. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are poorly understood. Impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM) have been observed in adult survivors of developmental trauma and individuals with psychosis. ToM is therefore a candidate mechanism underlying the association between developmental trauma and psychosis. METHODS We used a computerised version of the Director task - where a participant is instructed by a confederate to move an object around a 4 × 4 grid, whilst taking account of whether these objects are visible to a confederate who instructs the participant - to investigate impairments in ToM in 209 participants (age: M = 37.8, SD=13.6; 56% female). Participants were divided into a) developmental trauma-positive (DT+) and control groups (DT-) based on their history of developmental trauma and b) then further into subclinical (S) and healthy groups (H) as based on psychotic experiences indexed by the CAPE-P15. After exclusion, the numbers in each group were: DT+H (47), DT+S (84), DT-H (54), DT-S (12). (Total: 197). RESULTS Developmental trauma exposure was associated with psychotic experiences (OR: 7.89, p < .001), which remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical confounds (adjusted R2 = 0.452, R2 change = 0.0184, p = .009). Participants with developmental trauma (F1, 194) = 5.46, p = .020, ηp2 = 0.027) and participants more prone to psychotic experiences (F1, 194) = 4.71, p = .031, ηp2 = 0.024) demonstrated significantly lower accuracy on the Director task relative to their respective control, after controlling for the effects of age. CONCLUSIONS ToM deficits are associated with self-reported developmental trauma and psychotic experiences. Further work is needed to explore these relationships further and whether they represent generalised or specific effect effects on developmental trauma and psychopathological domains.
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Chan A, Northoff G, Karasik R, Ouyang J, Williams K. Flights and Perchings of the BrainMind: A Temporospatial Approach to Psychotherapy. Front Psychol 2022; 13:828035. [PMID: 35444594 PMCID: PMC9014955 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.828035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This article introduces a process-oriented approach for improving present moment conceptualization in psychotherapy that is in alignment with neuroscience: the Temporospatial movements of mind (TSMM) model. We elaborate on seven temporal movements that describe the moment-to-moment morphogenesis of emotional feelings and thoughts from inception to maturity. Temporal refers to the passage of time through which feelings and thoughts develop, and electromagnetic activity, that among other responsibilities, bind information across time. Spatial dynamics extend from an undifferentiated to three dimensional experiences of emotional and cognitive processes. Neurophysiologically, spatial refers to structures within the brain and their varying interactions with one another. This article culminates in the development of an atheoretical temporospatial grid that may help clinicians conceptualize where patients are in their cognitive and emotional development to further guide technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldrich Chan
- Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, United States
- Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness, Miami, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Aldrich Chan,
| | - Georg Northoff
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Neural Dynamics, The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Mental Health Centre, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ryan Karasik
- Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, United States
- Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Jason Ouyang
- Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, United States
- Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Kathryn Williams
- Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, United States
- Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness, Miami, FL, United States
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Kiyar M, Lommen MJJ, Krebs RM, Daniels JK, Mueller SC. Reward prospect improves inhibitory control in female university students with a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2021; 71:101629. [PMID: 33217704 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101629] [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: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Childhood abuse and neglect increase the risk for psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety) during adulthood and have been associated with deficits in cognitive control. The specific mechanisms underlying these cognitive control deficits are still unknown. METHODS This study examined the expectation for reward to improve inhibitory control in young women (ages 18-35 years) with a history of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse (AG, N = 28), childhood emotional and/or physical neglect (NG, N = 30), or unaffected comparison women (HC, N = 40). They completed a previously validated rewarded (color-word) Stroop task and filled out questionnaires on depression, anxiety, and resilience. RESULTS Surprisingly, a significant group by reward interaction revealed larger performance benefits under reward prospect (relative to no-reward) for the AG group relative to both the NG and HC groups. LIMITATIONS A small sample size limiting generalizability. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate sensitivity of abused subjects to reward in modulating cognitive control and might aid in discussing whether using reward schedules during therapeutic interventions could be effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meltem Kiyar
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Miriam J J Lommen
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ruth M Krebs
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Judith K Daniels
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
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Morrison TE, De Coster L, Stauffer CS, Wen J, Ahmadi E, Delucchi K, O’Donovan A, Woolley J. Automatic Imitation in Comorbid PTSD & Alcohol Use Disorder and Controls: an RCT of Intranasal Oxytocin. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 120:104787. [PMID: 32745891 PMCID: PMC7502459 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mimicking movements of others makes both the imitating and imitated partners feel closer. Oxytocin may increase focus on others and has been shown to increase automatic imitation in healthy controls (HC). However, this has not been replicated, and oxytocin's effects on automatic imitation have not been demonstrated in clinical populations. This study attempts to replicate effects on HC and examine effects on people with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder (PTSD-AUD). METHODS Fifty-four males with PTSD-AUD and 43 male HC received three intranasal treatment conditions (placebo, oxytocin 20 International Units (IU), and oxytocin 40 IU) in a randomized order, across three separate testing days, as part of a double-blind, crossover parent study. At 135 min post-administration, each performed the imitation-inhibition task, which quantifies automatic imitation as the congruency effect (CE). After exclusions, the final analyzed data set included 49 participants with PTSD-AUD and 38 HC. RESULTS In HC, oxytocin 20 IU demonstrated a statistically significant increase in CE, and 40 IU showed a trend-level increase. In PTSD-AUD, oxytocin did not significantly increase CE. Post-hoc analysis showed the PTSD-AUD group had higher CE than HC on placebo visits. DISCUSSION Our data suggest PTSD-AUD is associated with higher automatic imitation than HC in the absence of oxytocin administration. We successfully replicated findings that oxytocin increases automatic imitation in HC. This demonstrates an unconscious motor effect induced by oxytocin, likely relevant to more complex forms of imitative movements, which have the potential to improve social connection. We did not find a significant effect of oxytocin on automatic imitation in PTSD-AUD. Future research should examine imitation in both sexes, at peak oxytocin levels, and on increasingly complex forms of imitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler E. Morrison
- Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine 401 Parnassus Ave (Box 0984 RTP), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; (415) 476-7000
| | - Lize De Coster
- Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, 401 Parnassus Ave (Box 0984 RTP), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; VA San Francisco Healthcare System, 4150 Clement St (116C-1), San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
| | - Christopher S. Stauffer
- VA San Francisco Healthcare System 4150 Clement St (116C-1), San Francisco, CA, 94121 ,USA; Tel.: (415) 221-4810; Fax: (415) 379-5667
| | - Jin Wen
- VA San Francisco Healthcare System, 4150 Clement St (116C-1), San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
| | - Elnaz Ahmadi
- VA San Francisco Healthcare System, 4150 Clement St (116C-1), San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
| | - Kevin Delucchi
- Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, 401 Parnassus Ave (Box 0984 RTP), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Aoife O’Donovan
- Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine 401 Parnassus Ave (Box 0984 RTP), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; (415) 476-7000,VA San Francisco Healthcare System 4150 Clement St (116C-1), San Francisco, CA, 94121 ,USA; Tel.: (415) 221-4810; Fax: (415) 379-5667
| | - Josh Woolley
- Department of Psychiatry at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, 401 Parnassus Ave (Box 0984 RTP), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; VA San Francisco Healthcare System, 4150 Clement St (116C-1), San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
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