Monica Aas1, Diego A Pizzagalli2, Jannicke Fjæra Laskemoen3, Elina J Reponen3, Torill Ueland3, Ingrid Melle3, Ingrid Agartz4, Nils Eiel Steen3, Ole A Andreassen3. 1. NORMENT K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. Electronic address: monica.aas@medisin.uio.no. 2. Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 3. NORMENT K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. 4. NORMENT K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The neural diathesis-stress model is useful to understand schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar (BD) disorders. Childhood maltreatment could affect the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA)-axis and lead to chronic changes in stress-sensitivity, which can be measured with hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), representing long-term, cumulative cortisol levels. Here we investigated if childhood trauma experiences are associated with chronic changes in the HPA axis in severe mental disorders. METHODS: Participants with SZ or BD (N = 63) and healthy controls (N = 94) were included, and HCC was measured by ELISA. History of childhood maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Global function and symptom levels were obtained using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A neuropsychological test battery (MATRICS) was performed to assess cognitive functions. RESULTS: Our study shows for the first time that patients with a history of childhood maltreatment have higher HCC relative to both healthy controls and patients without a history of childhood maltreatment (P = 0.01, ƞp2 = 0.046). In addition, patients experiencing a mood episode had higher HCC than patients in remission (P = 0.03). Lastly, we are the first to show that patients with higher HCC had poorer cognitive performance, specifically working memory (P = 0.01). All associations were irrespective of diagnostic group. A factor analysis confirmed a subgroup within the patients characterized by childhood maltreatment and elevated HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the neural diathesis-stress model in SZ and BD pointing to long-term changes in HPA-axis following childhood maltreatment experiences.
BACKGROUND: The neural diathesis-stress model is useful to understand schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar (BD) disorders. Childhood maltreatment could affect the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA)-axis and lead to chronic changes in stress-sensitivity, which can be measured with hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), representing long-term, cumulative cortisol levels. Here we investigated if childhood trauma experiences are associated with chronic changes in the HPA axis in severe mental disorders. METHODS:Participants with SZ or BD (N = 63) and healthy controls (N = 94) were included, and HCC was measured by ELISA. History of childhood maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Global function and symptom levels were obtained using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A neuropsychological test battery (MATRICS) was performed to assess cognitive functions. RESULTS: Our study shows for the first time that patients with a history of childhood maltreatment have higher HCC relative to both healthy controls and patients without a history of childhood maltreatment (P = 0.01, ƞp2 = 0.046). In addition, patients experiencing a mood episode had higher HCC than patients in remission (P = 0.03). Lastly, we are the first to show that patients with higher HCC had poorer cognitive performance, specifically working memory (P = 0.01). All associations were irrespective of diagnostic group. A factor analysis confirmed a subgroup within the patients characterized by childhood maltreatment and elevated HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the neural diathesis-stress model in SZ and BD pointing to long-term changes in HPA-axis following childhood maltreatment experiences.
Authors: Baptiste Pignon; Mohamed Lajnef; James B Kirkbride; Hugo Peyre; Aziz Ferchiou; Jean-Romain Richard; Grégoire Baudin; Sarah Tosato; Hannah Jongsma; Lieuwe de Haan; Ilaria Tarricone; Miguel Bernardo; Eva Velthorst; Mauro Braca; Celso Arango; Manuel Arrojo; Julio Bobes; Cristina Marta Del-Ben; Marta Di Forti; Charlotte Gayer-Anderson; Peter B Jones; Caterina La Cascia; Antonio Lasalvia; Paulo Rossi Menezes; Diego Quattrone; Julio Sanjuán; Jean-Paul Selten; Andrea Tortelli; Pierre-Michel Llorca; Jim van Os; Bart P F Rutten; Robin M Murray; Craig Morgan; Marion Leboyer; Andrei Szöke; Franck Schürhoff Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2021-10-21 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Monica Aas; Torill Ueland; Amina Inova; Ingrid Melle; Ole A Andreassen; Nils Eiel Steen Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2020-05-14 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Andrés Herane-Vives; Danilo Arnone; Valeria de Angel; Andrew Papadopoulos; Toby Wise; Luis Alameda; Kia-Chong Chua; Allan H Young; Anthony J Cleare Journal: Int J Bipolar Disord Date: 2020-03-05