The Association between Default-mode Network Functional Connectivity and Childhood Trauma on the Symptom Load in Male
Shyh-Yuh Wei1, Tsung-Han Tsai1, Tsung-Yu Tsai1
1Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Objective:
: The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) has been shown in previous studies; nevertheless, the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Childhood trauma is associated with aberrant functional connectivity (FC) within the default-mode network (DMN). Furthermore, within the DMN, FC may contribute to impaired self-awareness in addiction, while cross-network FC is critical for relapse. We aimed to investigate whether childhood trauma was associated with DMN-related resting-state FC among healthy controls and patients with MUD and to examine whether DMN-related FC affected the effect of childhood trauma on the symptom load of MUD diagnosis.
Methods:
: Twenty-seven male patients with MUD and 27 male healthy controls were enrolled and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. DMN-related resting-state FC was examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Results:
: There were 47.1% healthy controls and 66.7% MUD patients in this study with adverse childhood experiences. Negative correlations between adverse childhood experiences and within-DMN FC were observed in both healthy controls and MUD patients, while within-DMN FC was significantly altered in MUD patients. The detrimental effects of adverse childhood experiences on MUD patients may be attenuated through DMN-executive control networks (ECN) FC.
Conclusion:
: Adverse childhood experiences were negatively associated with within-DMN FC in MUD patients and healthy controls. However, DMN-ECN FC may attenuate the effects of childhood trauma on symptoms load of MUD.
Insights
Childhood trauma is linked to altered brain connectivity in methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Default-mode network (DMN) functional connectivity (FC) may be a key factor, with DMN-executive control network (ECN) FC potentially mitigating trauma
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).
- Neural mechanisms, particularly default-mode network (DMN) functional connectivity (FC), are not fully understood.
- Childhood trauma may affect self-awareness and relapse in addiction via DMN alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the association between childhood trauma and DMN-related resting-state FC in MUD patients and healthy controls.
- Examine if DMN-related FC influences the impact of childhood trauma on MUD symptom severity.
Main Methods:
- 27 male MUD patients and 27 male healthy controls completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess DMN-related FC.
Main Results:
- 66.7% of MUD patients and 47.1% of controls reported ACEs.
- Negative correlations were found between ACEs and within-DMN FC in both groups.
- Within-DMN FC was significantly altered in MUD patients, and DMN-executive control network (ECN) FC may buffer trauma's effects.
Conclusions:
- ACEs are negatively associated with within-DMN FC in MUD patients and controls.
- DMN-ECN FC shows potential in attenuating the effects of childhood trauma on MUD symptom load.
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