An exploration of addiction in adults experiencing early-life stress: a metasynthesis

ABSTRACT Objective: to review and synthesize qualitative research on the links between early-life stress and addiction behaviours in adulthood. Method: metasynthesis to review qualitative research findings based on procedures that outline how to identify themes or constructs across studies in a specific area. Comprehensive searches of multiple electronic databases were performed. The initial search yielded 1050 articles and the titles and abstracts were screened for inclusion based on predetermined criteria. Thirty-eight full text, peer-reviewed articles were retrieved and assessed by three independent reviewers. Twelve articles were eligible for full review and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools. Results: the findings revealed that clear associations exist between early-life stress and addictive behaviours in adulthood, such as between trauma in childhood, violence, and addictive behaviours. A common theme in the findings indicates that participants turn to addictive substances as a way of strategically coping with stressful childhood experiences, regardless of the harmful side effects or detrimental social outcomes. Conclusion: it can be inferred that addiction may be viewed as a way to deal with adversity in childhood and that there is an interrelationship between addiction, domestic violence and crime.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences Run Deep: Toxic Early Life Stress, Telomeres, and Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number, the Biological Markers of Cumulative Stress

BioEssays ◽

10.1002/bies.201800077 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (9) ◽

pp. 1800077 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Kathryn K. Ridout ◽

Mariam Khan ◽

Samuel J. Ridout

Keyword(s):

Mitochondrial Dna ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Life Stress ◽

Early Life ◽

Copy Number ◽

Early Life Stress ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Cumulative Stress ◽

Mitochondrial Dna Copy Number ◽

Adverse Childhood

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Early Life Stress Promotes Heroin Seeking But Does Not Alter the Excitability of Insular Pyramidal Cells Targeting the Nucleus Accumbens

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnbeh.2021.777826 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Jonna M. Leyrer-Jackson ◽

Paula F. Overby ◽

Erin K. Nagy ◽

M. Foster Olive

Keyword(s):

Nucleus Accumbens ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Life Stress ◽

Early Life ◽

Pyramidal Neurons ◽

Early Life Stress ◽

Self Administration ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Seeking Behavior

A number of retrospective studies have demonstrated adverse childhood experiences are associated with increased vulnerability to substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders (OUDs). These adverse childhood experiences, also referred to as early life stress (ELS), can be modeled in laboratory animals by various paradigms including limited bedding and nesting (LBN) procedures. Studies using rodent models of ELS have been shown to recapitulate various aspects of OUDs, including relapse propensity and perseverance of drug-seeking behavior. In the current study, we utilized the LBN paradigm to explore potential effects on heroin self-administration, extinction, and relapse-like behaviors in male and female rats. We also utilized in vitro whole-cell electrophysiology to examine the effects of LBN and repeated heroin administration on the excitability of pyramidal neurons in the anterior insular cortex (AIC) projecting to the nucleus accumbens core (NAc), as recent studies suggest that this circuit may mediate various aspects of OUDs and may be compromised as a result of either ELS or OUDs. We observed that compared to control animals, rats exposed to LBN conditions during postnatal days 2–9 showed increased breakpoints for heroin self-administration under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, impaired extinction of heroin-seeking behavior, and increased reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior induced by heroin-associated cues. No effect of LBN rearing conditions were observed on the acquisition and maintenance of heroin self-administration, and no sex differences in heroin intake were observed. LBN and control reared animals showed no differences in the excitability of AIC-NAc pyramidal neurons, but animals treated with repeated heroin showed decreased excitability of these neurons through a significant increase in rheobase and reduction in action potentials induced by depolarizing currents. Together, these results suggest that ELS exposure produces exacerbations of heroin seeking behavior without parallel effects on AIC-NAc excitability, although heroin itself reduces the excitability of these neurons.

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