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The Effect of Early Life Stress on Adult Psychiatric Disorders

Steven D Targum1,2, Charles B Nemeroff1,2

  • 1Dr. Targum is Scientific Director with CRF-Bracket in Boston, Massachusetts.

Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience
|May 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Childhood maltreatment leads to early life stress (ELS), causing lifelong neurodevelopmental issues. ELS impacts mental health and reduces treatment effectiveness for conditions like major depression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Childhood maltreatment is a significant public health issue in the US.
  • Early life stress (ELS) from abuse or neglect has profound, lasting effects.
  • ELS is linked to impaired neurodevelopment, leading to various health and psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review neurobiological and epigenetic research on the association between early life stress and its consequences.
  • To explore how ELS affects individuals, particularly those with major depression.

Main Methods:

  • Review of neurobiological studies.
  • Analysis of epigenetic research.
  • Examination of studies on major depression and ELS.

Main Results:

  • ELS is associated with disrupted neurodevelopment.
  • Individuals with ELS may experience social, emotional, and cognitive impairments.
  • Adults with major depression and ELS often show poorer response to conventional treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Early life stress has significant neurobiological and epigenetic impacts.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
  • ELS may necessitate tailored treatment approaches for psychiatric disorders.

Keywords:
Early life stressadult psychiatric disorderchildhood abusemajor depressive disorder

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