Childhood sexual abuse, stressful life events and risk for major depression in women

Background. In animals, early trauma can produce long-lasting changes in sensitivity to the pathogenic effects of stress. To explore whether similar processes occur in humans, we examine whether childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in women alters sensitivity in adulthood to the depressogenic effects of stressful life events (SLEs).Method. A history of CSA was obtained from a population-based sample of 1404 female adult twins. Cox Proportional hazard models were used to predict onsets of episodes of DSM-III-R major depression (MD) in the past year from previously assessed levels of neuroticism (N), CSA and past-year SLEs scored on long-term contextual threat.Results. In the best-fit model, onset of MD was predicted by CSA, SLEs and N. Individuals with CSA (and especially with severe CSA) had both an overall increased risk for MD and a substantially increased sensitivity to the depressogenic effects of SLEs. A ‘dose–response’ relationship between severity of CSA and sensitivity to SLEs was clearer in those with low to average levels of N than in those with high levels of N.Conclusion. As documented with physiological responses to a standardized laboratory stressor, CSA increases stress sensitivity in women in a more naturalistic setting. Both genetic and early environmental risk factors can produce long-term increase in the sensitivity of individuals to depressogenic life experiences.

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Stressful Life Events and Major Depression: Risk Period, Long-Term Contextual Threat, and Diagnostic Specificity

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease ◽

10.1097/00005053-199811000-00001 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 186 (11) ◽

pp. 661-669 ◽

Cited By ~ 200

Author(s):

KENNETH S. KENDLER ◽

LAURA M. KARKOWSKI ◽

CAROL A. PRESCOTT

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Diagnostic Specificity ◽

Depression Risk ◽

Risk Period

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Coexisting Psychiatric Problems and Stressful Life Events in Adults With Symptoms of ADHD—A Large Swedish Population-Based Study of Twins

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054710376909 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 13-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Bettina Friedrichs ◽

Wilmar Igl ◽

Henrik Larsson ◽

Jan-Olov Larsson

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Adult Adhd ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Population Based ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Swedish Population ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Psychiatric Problems

Objective: To explore the associations of subtypes of adult ADHD with other psychiatric problems, stressful life events, and sex differences. Method: Odds ratios were calculated using information from 17,899 participants from a population-based survey of adult twins born in Sweden between 1959 and 1985. Results: Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were associated with an increased risk for symptoms of (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]): generalized anxiety disorder (5.6 [4.3; 6.5]), major depression (2.8 [2.4; 3.2]), bipolar disorder (8.0 [5.1; 12.6]), obsessive-compulsive disorder (3.9 [3.1; 4.9]), and alcohol dependence (2.6 [2.2; 3.1]). Symptoms of ADHD were found to be associated with an increased risk for stressful life events (1.8 [1.3; 2.4]). No significant difference in comorbidity was observed between the two sexes. Conclusion: Both women and men with ADHD are at increased risk for symptoms of other psychiatric disorders. They are also at increased risk for stressful life events.

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Childhood adversity, adult stressful life events, and risk of past-year psychiatric disorder: a test of the stress sensitization hypothesis in a population-based sample of adults

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291709992121 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 40 (10) ◽

pp. 1647-1658 ◽

Cited By ~ 322

Author(s):

K. A. McLaughlin ◽

K. J. Conron ◽

K. C. Koenen ◽

S. E. Gilman

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Stress Sensitization ◽

Increased Risk

BackgroundChildhood adversity (CA) is associated with adult mental disorders, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain inadequately understood. Stress sensitization, whereby CA increases vulnerability to mental disorders following adult stressful life events, has been proposed as a potential mechanism. We provide a test of the stress sensitization hypothesis in a national sample.MethodWe investigated whether the association between past-year stressful life events and the 12-month prevalence of major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other anxiety disorders, and perceived stress varies according to exposure to CA. We used data from the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) (n=34 653).ResultsPast-year stressful life events were associated with an increased risk of major depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and perceived stress. However, the magnitude of the increased risk varied according to respondents' history of CA. For example, past-year major stressors were associated with a 27.3% increase in the 12-month risk of depression among individuals with ⩾3 CAs and a 14.8% increased risk among individuals without CAs. Stress sensitization effects were present for depression, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders in women and men, although gender differences were found in the threshold of past-year stress needed to trigger such effects. Stress sensitization was most evident among individuals with ⩾3 CAs.ConclusionsCA is associated with increased vulnerability to the deleterious mental health effects of adult stressors in both men and women. High levels of CA may represent a general diathesis for multiple types of psychopathology that persists throughout the life course.

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Factors related to age at depression onset: the role of SLC6A4 methylation, sex, exposure to stressful life events and personality in a sample of inpatients suffering from major depression

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03166-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Simon Sanwald ◽

◽

Katharina Widenhorn-Müller ◽

Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona ◽

Christian Montag ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Life Events ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Age At Onset ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Entire Group ◽

Affective Neuroscience ◽

Depression Severity

Abstract Background An early onset of depression is associated with higher chronicity and disability, more stressful life events (SLEs), higher negative emotionality as described by the primary emotion SADNESS and more severe depressive symptomatology compared to depression onset later in life. Additionally, methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) is associated with SLEs and depressive symptoms. Methods We investigated the relation of SLEs, SLC6A4 methylation in peripheral blood, the primary emotions SADNESS and SEEKING (measured by the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales) as well as depressive symptom severity to age at depression onset in a sample of N = 146 inpatients suffering from major depression. Results Depressed women showed higher SADNESS (t (91.05) = − 3.17, p = 0.028, d = − 0.57) and higher SLC6A4 methylation (t (88.79) = − 2.95, p = 0.02, d = − 0.55) compared to men. There were associations between SLEs, primary emotions and depression severity, which partly differed between women and men. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) indicated the selection of a model including sex, SLEs, SEEKING and SADNESS for the prediction of age at depression onset. SLC6A4 methylation was not related to depression severity, age at depression onset or SLEs in the entire group, but positively related to depression severity in women. Conclusions Taken together, we provide further evidence that age at depression onset is associated with SLEs, personality and depression severity. However, we found no associations between age at onset and SLC6A4 methylation. The joint investigation of variables originating in biology, psychology and psychiatry could make an important contribution to understanding the development of depressive disorders by elucidating potential subtypes of depression.

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The interaction between child maltreatment, adult stressful life events and the 5-HTTLPR in major depression

Journal of Psychiatric Research ◽

10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.03.017 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 1032-1035 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Robert A. Power ◽

Lucy Lecky-Thompson ◽

Helen L. Fisher ◽

Sarah Cohen-Woods ◽

Georgina M. Hosang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Stressful Life

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Stressful Life Events Interacting With Cognitive/Personality Styles to Predict Late-Onset Major Depression

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1097/00019442-200205000-00009 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 297-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Carolyn M. Mazure ◽

Paul K. Maciejewski ◽

Selby C. Jacobs ◽

Martha L. Bruce

Keyword(s):

Major Depression ◽

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Late Onset ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Personality Styles

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Stressful life events are not associated with the development of dementia

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610213001804 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 147-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Anna Sundström ◽

Michael Rönnlund ◽

Rolf Adolfsson ◽

Lars-Göran Nilsson

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Emotional Adjustment ◽

Population Based ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Emotional Impact ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Positive Life Events

ABSTRACTBackground:The impact of stressful life events as a risk factor of dementia diseases is inconclusive. We sought to determine whether stressful negative life events are associated with incidental dementia in a population-based study with long-term follow-up. We also tested the hypothesis that the occurrence of positive life events could mitigate or overcome the possible adverse effects of negative life events on dementia conversion.Methods:The study involved 2,462 dementia-free participants aged 55 years and older. Information on life events was ascertained at baseline from a comprehensive Life Event Inventory, which included 56 questions about specific life events. For each life event, the emotional impact (both positive and negative) and emotional adjustment were asked for.Results:During follow-up, 423 participants developed dementia; of these, 240 developed Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cox regression analysis showed no association between the total number of negative life events and the incidence of dementia when adjusted solely for age and gender (hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.92–1.02), or with multiple adjustments for a range of covariates (hazard ratio = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.91–1.01). Similarly, neither emotional impact nor emotional adjustment to these life events was associated with incident dementia. A separate analysis of AD did not alter the results.Conclusions:The result of this population-based study finds no association between negative or positive life events and dementia. Accordingly, our results reject the hypothesis that stressful life events trigger the onset of dementia diseases.

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Assessment of Gender Differences in Depression- A Cross-Sectional study

International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal ◽

10.9734/indj/2021/v16i130164 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 28-33

Author(s):

Tushar Agravat

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Statistical Analysis ◽

Major Depression ◽

Life Events ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Nuclear Family ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Significant Difference ◽

One Year

Background and Aim: Major depression in both women and men is a debilitating disorder that disrupts relationship and daily lives and affects nearly 10% of general populations. The aims and objectives of this study were to determine the gender differences in major depression with respect to following: Demographic characteristics, Clinical manifestations, Stressful life events, Risk factors. Materials and Methods: Total of 100 patients was included in the study. All the included patients meet the criteria for DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnosis of major depression. The included patients were interviewed at the department of Psychiatry, B. J. Medical College & civil hospital Ahmedabad. Based on the Life Events Scale by Holmes and Rahe (1967), its Indian adaptation PSLE (Presumptive stressful life events scale) was done by Gurmeet Singh (1983). The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS IX version. Results: Their ages range from 18 to 70 years. Most of the patients were married, were from urban background, and nuclear family. On Hamilton Depression rating scale when the statistical analysis was done, there was no significant difference between males and females. Men had higher mean life events score than women but this was not statistically significant. In female, there was significant positive correlation between number of life events in one year and severity of depression as well as impact score during one year prior to onset of depression and Hamilton rating scores. Conclusion: Male and female major depression patients did not differ as regards demographic characteristics, except that most women were homemakers and men were employed. Number of stressful life events experienced during 1 year prior to onset of MDD was similar. Early insomnia, middle insomnia and somatic symptoms general were more severely present in female patients.

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