BACKGROUND: Alterations in gray matter development represent a potential pathway through which childhood abuse is associated with psychopathology. Several prior studies find reduced volume and thickness of prefrontal (PFC) and temporal cortex regions in abused compared with nonabused adolescents, although most prior research is based on adults and volume-based measures. This study tests the hypothesis that child abuse, independent of parental education, predicts reduced cortical thickness in prefrontal and temporal cortices as well as reduced gray mater volume (GMV) in subcortical regions during adolescence. METHODS: Structural MRI scans were obtained from 21 adolescents exposed to physical and/or sexual abuse and 37 nonabused adolescents (ages 13-20). Abuse was operationalized using dichotomous and continuous measures. We examined associations between abuse and brain structure in several a priori-defined regions, controlling for parental education, age, sex, race, and total brain volume for subcortical GMV. Significance was evaluated at p < .05 with a false discovery rate correction. RESULTS: Child abuse exposure and severity were associated with reduced thickness in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (PFC), right lateral orbitofrontal cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), left temporal pole, and bilateral inferior, right middle, and right superior temporal gyri. Neither abuse measure predicted cortical surface area or subcortical GMV. Bilateral PHG thickness was inversely related to externalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Child abuse, an experience characterized by a high degree of threat, is associated with reduced cortical thickness in ventromedial and ventrolateral PFC and medial and lateral temporal cortex in adolescence. Reduced PHG thickness may be a mediator linking abuse with externalizing psychopathology, although prospective research is needed to evaluate this possibility. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
BACKGROUND: Alterations in gray matter development represent a potential pathway through which childhood abuse is associated with psychopathology. Several prior studies find reduced volume and thickness of prefrontal (PFC) and temporal cortex regions in abused compared with nonabused adolescents, although most prior research is based on adults and volume-based measures. This study tests the hypothesis that child abuse, independent of parental education, predicts reduced cortical thickness in prefrontal and temporal cortices as well as reduced gray mater volume (GMV) in subcortical regions during adolescence. METHODS: Structural MRI scans were obtained from 21 adolescents exposed to physical and/or sexual abuse and 37 nonabused adolescents (ages 13-20). Abuse was operationalized using dichotomous and continuous measures. We examined associations between abuse and brain structure in several a priori-defined regions, controlling for parental education, age, sex, race, and total brain volume for subcortical GMV. Significance was evaluated at p < .05 with a false discovery rate correction. RESULTS:Child abuse exposure and severity were associated with reduced thickness in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (PFC), right lateral orbitofrontal cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), left temporal pole, and bilateral inferior, right middle, and right superior temporal gyri. Neither abuse measure predicted cortical surface area or subcortical GMV. Bilateral PHG thickness was inversely related to externalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:Child abuse, an experience characterized by a high degree of threat, is associated with reduced cortical thickness in ventromedial and ventrolateral PFC and medial and lateral temporal cortex in adolescence. Reduced PHG thickness may be a mediator linking abuse with externalizing psychopathology, although prospective research is needed to evaluate this possibility. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Authors: Anke Karl; Michael Schaefer; Loretta S Malta; Denise Dörfel; Nicolas Rohleder; Annett Werner Journal: Neurosci Biobehav Rev Date: 2006-05-26 Impact factor: 8.989
Authors: Mohammed R Milad; Christopher I Wright; Scott P Orr; Roger K Pitman; Gregory J Quirk; Scott L Rauch Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2007-01-09 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Mohammed R Milad; Brian T Quinn; Roger K Pitman; Scott P Orr; Bruce Fischl; Scott L Rauch Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2005-07-15 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Thomas Huebner; Timo D Vloet; Ivo Marx; Kerstin Konrad; Gereon R Fink; Sabine C Herpertz; Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Daniel S Busso; Katie A McLaughlin; Stephanie Brueck; Matthew Peverill; Andrea L Gold; Margaret A Sheridan Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2017-02-03 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Delin Sun; Matthew R Peverill; Chelsea S Swanson; Katie A McLaughlin; Rajendra A Morey Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2017-12-25 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Adam Bryant Miller; Margaret A Sheridan; Jamie L Hanson; Katie A McLaughlin; John E Bates; Jennifer E Lansford; Gregory S Pettit; Kenneth A Dodge Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2018-02
Authors: Michael Windle; Joshua C Gray; Karlo Mankit Lei; Allen W Barton; Gene Brody; Steven R H Beach; Adrianna Galván; James MacKillop; Uraina S Clark; Lawrence H Sweet Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2018-03-14 Impact factor: 4.492