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Childhood adversity impacts on brain subcortical structures relevant to depression
Thomas Frodl1, Deborah Janowitz2, Lianne Schmaal3
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|December 6, 2016
Summary
Childhood adversity is linked to smaller caudate volumes in females, regardless of major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis. This finding highlights adversity
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Childhood adversity is a significant risk factor for developing major depressive disorder (MDD).
- Subcortical brain structure differences exist between MDD patients and controls, but the specific role of childhood adversity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between childhood adversity and subcortical brain volumes.
- To examine the interaction of childhood adversity with MDD diagnosis and sex on subcortical volumes.
Main Methods:
- Mega-analysis of data from 3036 participants (MDD patients and controls) across nine university sites within the ENIGMA-MDD network.
- Assessment of childhood adversity and subcortical brain volumes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and FreeSurfer software.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was found between childhood adversity, MDD diagnosis, sex, and brain region.
- Increased childhood adversity was associated with smaller caudate volumes in females, independent of MDD diagnosis.
- Emotional and physical neglect were particularly associated with reduced caudate volumes in females.
Conclusions:
- Childhood adversity contributes to brain structural abnormalities relevant to psychiatric disorders like depression.
- The impact of childhood adversity on subcortical volumes, specifically the caudate, is evident in females, irrespective of MDD status.
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