Adverse childhood experiences and brain development: neurobiological mechanisms linking the social environment to psychiatric disorders

2013 ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
Katie A. McLaughlin ◽  
Margaret A. Sheridan ◽  
Charles A. Nelson, III
Keyword(s):  
Brain Development ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Social

scholarly journals Correlation of adverse childhood experiences with psychiatric disorders and aggressiveness in adulthood

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 653-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Samardzic ◽  
Gordana Nikolic ◽  
Grozdanko Grbesa ◽  
Maja Simonovic ◽  
Tatjana Milenkovic
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Significant Difference

Background/Aim. Consequences of individual adverse childhood experiences for adult mental health have been precisely studied during past decades. The focus of past research was mainly on childhood maltreatment and neglect. The aim of this paper was to determine association between multiple adverse childhood experiences and psychiatric disorders, as well as their correlation to the degree and type of aggressiveness in adult psychiatric patients. Methods. One hundred and thirteen psychiatric outpatients were divided into three diagnostic groups: psychotics, non-psychotics and alcoholics and compared with fourty healthy individuals. Adverse childhood experiences data were gathered retrospectively, using the Adverse childhood experiences questionnaire and explanatory interview. Aggressiveness was assessed using Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The Student's t test, ANOVA and correlational analysis were used for evaluation of statistical significance of differences among the groups. A value p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Our results showed that the mean number of adverse childhood experiences in each group of psychiatric patients, as well as in the whole group of patients, was statistically significantly higher than in the group of healthy individuals (p < 0.001); there was a statistically significant difference in score of physical aggressiveness between the patients exposed to adverse childhood experiences and those who were not exposed to them (p < 0.05); scores of physical aggressiveness were in positive correlation with the number of adverse childhood experiences (p < 0.05). The highest mean score of adverse childhood experiences was evidenced in the group of patients with psychotic disorders. Conclusion. Multiple adverse childhood experiences are significantly associated with psychotic disorders, nonpsychotic disorders and alcohol dependence in adulthood and their presence is important morbidity risk factor for psychiatric disorders. They are in positive correlation with physical aggressiveness of the patients from these diagnostic groups.

Life Span: Childhood/School Age

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Larkin
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Health Risk Behaviors ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Developmental Tasks ◽  
School Age ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Social

School age children are negotiating numerous developmental tasks across distinct lines of development. Social workers recognize that this development is taking place within the context of culture and systems and are oriented toward assisting the most vulnerable members of society. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are connected to later in life health risk behaviors and serious medical, mental health, and substance abuse problems. The social work profession is poised to work comprehensively in supporting healthy child development and intervening when development has been derailed by ACEs. This builds human capital, which is profitable to society.

My Experiences in Urban Education

2017 ◽  
Vol 673 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-129
Author(s):  
Rodney Walker
Keyword(s):  
Urban Education ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
First Person ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Social ◽  
Life Trajectory

This essay is a first-person narrative of my adverse childhood experiences, the social emotional impact they had on my life trajectory, and the interventions that helped me to redirect my path and influence my journey to success.

scholarly journals Neurocognition and its association with adverse childhood experiences and familial risk of mental illness

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sai Priya Lakkireddy ◽  
Srinivas Balachander ◽  
Pavithra Dayal ◽  
Mahashweta Bhattacharya ◽  
Mino Susan Joseph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Familial Risk ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Background: Neurocognitive deficits are considered an endophenotype for several psychiatric disorders, typically studied in unaffected first-degree relatives (FDRs). Environmental factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may also affect neurocognition. This study examines the effect of ACEs on neurocognitive performance in FDRs of patients with severe mental illness in order to determine whether familial risk has a moderating effect on the relationship between ACEs and neurocognition. Methods: The sample consists of a total of 512 individuals composed of unaffected FDRs from multiplex families with severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or alcohol use disorder) and healthy controls (with no familial risk). Neurocognitive tests included processing speed (Color Trails), new learning (Auditory Verbal Learning Test), working memory (N-Back), and Theory of Mind (SOCRATIS). ACEs were measured using the WHO ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Regression models adjusted for age, gender and education were done to predict each neurocognitive domain by the effect of familial risk, ACE-IQ Total Score and the interaction (familial risk x ACE-IQ Total score). Results: When all FDRs were examined as a group, the main effect of familial risk predicted poor performance in all domains of neurocognition (p <0.01), and the ACEs x familial risk interaction had a significant negative association with global neurocognition, processing speed & working memory. This interaction effect was driven predominantly by the familial risk of AUD. In FDRs of schizophrenia & bipolar disorder, only the main effects of familial risk were significant (working memory, theory of mind & global neurocognition), with no impact of ACEs or its interaction in both these sub-groups. Conclusions: The impact of childhood adversity on neurocognition is moderated by familial risk of psychiatric disorders. Genetic or familial vulnerability may play a greater role in disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, while the interaction between ACEs and family history may be more relevant in the case of disorders with greater environmental risk, such as substance use.

Adverse Childhood Experiences 101: A Primer for Clinicians

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Canan Karatekin ◽  
Brandon Almy
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Negative Outcomes ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of

We provide an overview of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including a brief history and critique of ACEs as a cumulative risk factor, how ACEs are measured, prevalence of ACEs in epidemiological studies, and associations between ACEs and negative outcomes. Next, we list current hypotheses about potential mechanisms of risk between ACEs and negative outcomes and highlight the importance of examining the social determinants of ACEs. We point out the paucity of research on protective factors in studies on ACEs. Finally, we briefly review potential interventions (broadly defined) to prevent and address the consequences of ACEs. We end with several suggestions on what clinicians can do to help patients with a history of ACEs.

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