Genevieve Young-Southward1, Catherine Eaton2, Rory O'Connor3, Helen Minnis4. 1. Department of Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Level 1, Administration Building, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G120XH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: g.young-southward.1@reseach.gla.ac.uk. 2. Department of Education, University of Manchester, Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M139PL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: catherine.eaton@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. 3. Department of Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Level 1, Administration Building, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G120XH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rory.oconnor@glasgow.ac.uk. 4. Department of Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Level 4, West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital, Dalnair Street, Yorkhill, Glasgow, G38SJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: helen.minnis@glasgow.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (i.e. lower IQ/cognitive development) in individuals who have experienced childhood maltreatment is well documented in the literature. It is not yet clear whether maltreatment itself causes cognitive impairment, or whether reduced cognitive functioning pre-dates maltreatment exposure and places children at risk of maltreatment. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review critically evaluated the evidence for a causal association between child maltreatment and impaired cognition in children under 12 years. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched and articles extracted according to inclusion criteria. Quality rating of articles was conducted independently by two reviewers and the evidence for a causal association was evaluated using guidelines based on the Hill criteria for causation in epidemiological and public health research. RESULTS: 31 articles were included in the review, with results that suggested lower IQ/cognitive development in maltreated children compared to controls, and a dose-response relationship between timing and duration of maltreatment and impaired cognition. Assessment of causality indicated strong evidence for a causal association between maltreatment and reduced overall cognitive performance in institutionalised children. Findings were less robust for non-institutionalised samples. Evidence regarding specific cognitive functions was mixed. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme maltreatment may lead to reduced cognitive functioning in children under 12 years. More research is required to determine the impact of the nature and timing of maltreatment, as well as additional heritable and social factors, on specific profiles of cognition in this population.
BACKGROUND:Cognitive impairment (i.e. lower IQ/cognitive development) in individuals who have experienced childhood maltreatment is well documented in the literature. It is not yet clear whether maltreatment itself causes cognitive impairment, or whether reduced cognitive functioning pre-dates maltreatment exposure and places children at risk of maltreatment. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review critically evaluated the evidence for a causal association between child maltreatment and impaired cognition in children under 12 years. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched and articles extracted according to inclusion criteria. Quality rating of articles was conducted independently by two reviewers and the evidence for a causal association was evaluated using guidelines based on the Hill criteria for causation in epidemiological and public health research. RESULTS: 31 articles were included in the review, with results that suggested lower IQ/cognitive development in maltreated children compared to controls, and a dose-response relationship between timing and duration of maltreatment and impaired cognition. Assessment of causality indicated strong evidence for a causal association between maltreatment and reduced overall cognitive performance in institutionalised children. Findings were less robust for non-institutionalised samples. Evidence regarding specific cognitive functions was mixed. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme maltreatment may lead to reduced cognitive functioning in children under 12 years. More research is required to determine the impact of the nature and timing of maltreatment, as well as additional heritable and social factors, on specific profiles of cognition in this population.
Authors: Lucia Sideli; Adriano Schimmenti; Daniele La Barbera; Caterina La Cascia; Laura Ferraro; Monica Aas; Luis Alameda; Eva Velthorst; Helen L Fisher; Vincenzo Caretti; Giulia Trotta; Giada Tripoli; Diego Quattrone; Charlotte Gayer-Anderson; Fabio Seminerio; Crocettarachele Sartorio; Giovanna Marrazzo; Antonio Lasalvia; Sarah Tosato; Ilaria Tarricone; Domenico Berardi; Giuseppe D'Andrea; Celso Arango; Manuel Arrojo; Miguel Bernardo; Julio Bobes; Julio Sanjuán; Jose Luis Santos; Paulo Rossi Menezes; Cristina Marta Del-Ben; Hannah E Jongsma; Peter B Jones; James B Kirkbride; Pierre-Michel Llorca; Andrea Tortelli; Baptiste Pignon; Lieuwe de Haan; Jean-Paul Selten; Jim Van Os; Bart P Rutten; Marta Di Forti; Craig Morgan; Robin M Murray Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2022-05-07 Impact factor: 7.348