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Child abuse and autonomic nervous system hyporesponsivity among psychiatrically impaired children

Julian D Ford1, Lisa A Fraleigh1, David B Albert2

  • 1University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Farmington, CT, USA.

Child Abuse & Neglect
|July 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with a history of physical abuse show stress-related autonomic nervous system (ANS) down-regulation. This autonomic hyporesponsivity may contribute to behavioral impairments in psychiatrically diagnosed youth.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychiatry
  • Neurobiology
  • Trauma Studies

Background:

  • Child abuse, particularly physical abuse, is linked to neurobiological dysregulation.
  • Stress-related autonomic nervous system (ANS) down-regulation is a proposed consequence of abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between a history of child abuse and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.
  • To determine if physical or sexual abuse is linked to stressor-related ANS down-regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed ANS activity using noninvasive methods before and after a mild stressor (blood draw).
  • Collected data on 262 pediatric psychiatric inpatients, including abuse history, demographics, and functioning.
  • Utilized logistic regression to analyze the relationship between abuse history and ANS response.

Main Results:

  • A history of physical abuse was significantly associated with post-stressor autonomic hyporesponsivity (heart rate deceleration).
  • This association remained significant after controlling for other variables.
  • No significant association was found between sexual abuse and stressor-related ANS hyporesponsivity.

Conclusions:

  • Physical abuse, but not sexual abuse, is linked to stressor-related ANS down-regulation in psychiatrically impaired children.
  • Autonomic hyporesponsivity secondary to physical abuse may exacerbate emotional and behavioral impairments.
  • Clinical practice should include screening for physical abuse history and addressing stressor-related hyporeactivity in treatment.
Abstract

Keywords:
Autonomic nervous systemChild abuse

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