Depressed patients with childhood maltreatment display altered intra- and inter-network resting state functional
Mónika Gálber1, Szilvia Anett Nagy2, Gergely Orsi3
1Neurobiology of Stress Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
Insights
Childhood maltreatment significantly alters brain functional connectivity (FC) in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. These changes affect multiple neural networks, potentially explaining altered perception and functional neurological disorders in adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a significant risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD).
- Understanding how adverse childhood experiences impact brain architecture is crucial.
- This study investigates functional connectivity (FC) alterations in depressed patients with and without a history of CM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional connectivity (FC) alterations in neural networks of depressed patients.
- To compare FC in MDD patients with severe childhood maltreatment versus those without.
- To explore the influence of adverse childhood experiences on brain functional architecture.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional MRI was used to examine three groups: depressed patients with severe CM (n=18), MDD patients without CM (n=19), and matched healthy controls (n=20).
- Childhood maltreatment history was assessed using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
- Intra- and inter-network FC alterations were analyzed using FMRIB Software Library and CONN toolbox.
Main Results:
- Numerous intra- and inter-network FC alterations were identified between maltreated and non-maltreated depressed patients.
- Intra-network FC differences were observed in the default mode, visual, auditory networks, and cerebellum.
- Inter-network FC alterations connected the default mode network with executive control, salience, and cerebellar networks, with increased FC in maltreated patients between sensory-motor and other networks.
Conclusions:
- Severely maltreated depressed patients exhibit widespread alterations in intra- and inter-network FC strengths.
- These functional changes extend beyond fronto-limbic circuits to sensory-motor, visual, auditory, and cerebellar networks.
- These findings may elucidate why maltreated individuals often display altered perception and are susceptible to functional neurological symptom disorder.
Background:
Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a major risk factor for the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). To gain more knowledge on how adverse childhood experiences influence the development of brain architecture, we studied functional connectivity (FC) alterations of neural networks of depressed patients with, or without the history of CM.
Methods:
Depressed patients with severe childhood maltreatment (n = 18), MDD patients without maltreatment (n = 19), and matched healthy controls (n = 20) were examined with resting state functional MRI. History of maltreatment was assessed with the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Intra- and inter-network FC alterations were evaluated using FMRIB Software Library and CONN toolbox.
Results:
We found numerous intra- and inter-network FC alterations between the maltreated and the non-maltreated patients. Intra-network FC differences were found in the default mode, visual and auditory networks, and cerebellum. Network modelling revealed several inter-network FC alterations connecting the default mode network with the executive control, salience and cerebellar networks. Increased inter-network FC was found in maltreated patients between the sensory-motor and visual, cerebellar, default mode and salience networks.
Limitations:
Relatively small sample size, cross-sectional design, and retrospective self-report questionnaire to assess adverse childhood experiences.
Conclusions:
Our findings confirm that severely maltreated depressed patients display numerous alterations of intra- and inter-network FC strengths, not only in their fronto-limbic circuits, but also in sensory-motor, visual, auditory, and cerebellar networks. These functional alterations may explain that maltreated individuals typically display altered perception and are prone to develop functional neurological symptom disorder (conversion disorder) in adulthood.
