Behavioral epigenetics and the developmental origins of child mental health disorders

Advances in understanding the molecular basis of behavior through epigenetic mechanisms could help explain the developmental origins of child mental health disorders. However, the application of epigenetic principles to the study of human behavior is a relatively new endeavor. In this paper we discuss the ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’ including the role of fetal programming. We then review epigenetic principles related to fetal programming and the recent application of epigenetics to behavior. We focus on the neuroendocrine system and develop a simple heuristic stress-related model to illustrate how epigenetic changes in placental genes could predispose the infant to neurobehavioral profiles that interact with postnatal environmental factors potentially leading to mental health disorders. We then discuss from an ‘Evo-Devo’ perspective how some of these behaviors could also be adaptive. We suggest how elucidation of these mechanisms can help to better define risk and protective factors and populations at risk.

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Developmental origins of child mental health disorders

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.02014.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 49 (10) ◽

pp. 1009-1019 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

James D. Swanson ◽

Pathik M. Wadhwa

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Developmental Origins ◽

Health Disorders

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Addressing Pediatric Developmental and Mental Health in Primary Care Using Tele-Education

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/00099228211059644 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000992282110596

Author(s):

Joyce N. Harrison ◽

Janna Steinberg ◽

Anna Maria Louise Wilms Floet ◽

Nancy Grace ◽

Deepa Menon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Knowledge Gain ◽

Atlantic Region ◽

School Based ◽

Health Disorders ◽

Management Changes ◽

Provision Of Care

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an early childhood tele-education program in preparing community pediatric clinicians to manage developmental and mental health disorders in young children. Community pediatric clinicians from rural, underserved, or school-based health center practices in the mid-Atlantic region participated in a weekly tele-education videoconference. There was a significant knowledge gain evidenced by the percentage of questions answered correctly from pre- to post- didactic exposure ( P < .001). Participants reported an increase in knowledge from pre- ( P < .001) and in confidence from pre- to post- participation ( P < .001). Practice management changes demonstrated an encouraging trend toward managing patients in the Medical Home, as compared with immediately deferring to specialists following participation. This early childhood tele-education videoconferencing program is a promising response to the urgent need to confidently increase the role of pediatricians in the provision of care for childhood developmental and mental health disorders.

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The Role of Symptoms in the Recognition of Mental Health Disorders in Primary Care

Psychosomatics ◽

10.1176/appi.psy.44.5.402 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 402-406 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

János Füredi ◽

Sándor Rózsa ◽

János Zámbori ◽

Erika Szádóczky

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Health Disorders

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The Role of Rural and Urban Geography and Gender in Community Stigma Around Mental Illness

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198120974963 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 109019812097496

Author(s):

Shawnda Schroeder ◽

Chih Ming Tan ◽

Brian Urlacher ◽

Thomasine Heitkamp

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Mental Illness Stigma ◽

Stigma Scale ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Health Disorders ◽

And Gender

Empirical evidence describes the negative outcomes people with mental health disorders experience due to societal stigma. The aim of this study was to examine the role of gender and rural-urban living in perceptions about mental illness. Participants completed the Day’s Mental Illness Stigma Scale, a nationally validated instrument for measuring stigma. Directors of Chambers of Commerce in North Dakota distributed the electronic survey to their members. Additionally, distribution occurred through use of social media and other snowball sampling approaches. Analysis of data gathered from 749 participants occurred through examination of the difference in perceptions based on geography and gender. The zip codes of residence were sorted to distinguish between rural and urban participants. Application of weighting measures ensured closer alignment with the general population characteristics. Findings indicate that for the majority of the seven stigma measures the Day’s Mental Illness Stigma Scale examines, the coefficient of rural–gender interactions was positive and highly significant with higher levels of stigma in rural areas. Females exhibited lower stigma perceptions than males. However, women living in rural areas held higher degrees of stigma compared to urban residing females. Implications of the study include the need to advance mental health literacy campaigns for males and people residing in rural communities. Additional empirical studies that examine the role of geography and gender in understanding stigma toward people with mental health disorders will result in improved treatment outcomes due to increased and focused educational efforts.

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The Role of Pleasure Neurobiology and Dopamine in Mental Health Disorders

Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services ◽

10.3928/02793695-20170818-09 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (9) ◽

pp. 17-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Julie Worley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Health Disorders

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The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Mental Health and Medication Response: Parsing Directionality and Causality

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1093/ijnp/pyaa088 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 216-220

Author(s):

Thomaz F S Bastiaanssen ◽

John F Cryan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Side Effects ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Psychotropic Drugs ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Longitudinal Cohort ◽

Health Disorders

Abstract There is increasing evidence for the role of the microbiome in various mental health disorders. Moreover, there has been a growing understanding of the importance of the microbiome in mediating both the efficacy and side effects of various medications, including psychotropics. In this issue, Tomizawa and colleagues report on the effect of psychotropic drugs on the gut microbiome of 40 patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders. In their longitudinal cohort, the authors find that antipsychotics, but not anxiolytics, decrease microbiome alpha diversity. They further find that antipsychotics dosage was negatively correlated with alpha diversity in these patients. The health consequences of these microbiome alterations remain to be fully understood. In this commentary, we will discuss such findings through the lens of several recent studies on the microbiota-gut-brain axis. We also use the paper as a backdrop to discuss directionality and, by extension, causality in relation to microbiota-gut-brain-brain signaling.

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The aetiology of social deficits within mental health disorders: The role of the immune system and endogenous opioids

10.31234/osf.io/5r6nz ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Jane Charles ◽

Miguel Farias ◽

R. I. M. Dunbar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Immune System ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Social Bonding ◽

Endogenous Opioids ◽

Future Research ◽

Endogenous Opioid System ◽

Endogenous Opioid ◽

Health Disorders

The American National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) has put out a set of research goals that include a long-term plan to identify more reliable endogenous explanations for a wide variety of mental health disorders (Insel, 2013). In response to this, we have identified a major symptom that underlies multiple mental health disorders – social bonding dysfunction. We suggest that endogenous opioid abnormalities can lead to altered social bonding, which is a symptom of various mental health disorders, including depression, schizophrenia and ASD. This article first outlines how endogenous opioids play a role in social bonding. Then we show their association with the body’s inflammation immune function, and review recent literature linking inflammation to mental health ‘immunophenotypes’. We finish by explaining how these immunophenotypes may be caused by alterations in the endogenous opioid system. This is the first overview of the role of inflammation across multiple disorders where we provide a biochemical explanation for why immunophenotypes might exist across diagnoses. We propose a novel mechanism of how the immune system may be causing ‘sickness-type’ behaviours (fatigue, appetite change, social withdrawal and inhibited motivation) in those who have these immunophenotypes. We hope that this novel aetiology can be used as a basis for future research in mental health.

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