scholarly journals Early Life Stress and Pediatric Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiota Pervanidou ◽  
Gerasimos Makris ◽  
George Chrousos ◽  
Agorastos Agorastos

Traumatic stress exposure during critical periods of development may have essential and long-lasting effects on the physical and mental health of individuals. Two thirds of youth are exposed to potentially traumatic experiences by the age of 17, and approximately 5% of adolescents meet lifetime criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The role of the stress system is the maintenance of homeostasis in the presence of real/perceived and acute/chronic stressors. Early-life stress (ELS) has an impact on neuronal brain networks involved in stress reactions, and could exert a programming effect on glucocorticoid signaling. Studies on pediatric PTSD reveal diverse neuroendocrine responses to adverse events and related long-term neuroendocrine and epigenetic alterations. Neuroendocrine, neuroimaging, and genetic studies in children with PTSD and ELS experiences are crucial in understanding risk and resilience factors, and also the natural history of PTSD.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Salminen ◽  
Rajendra A. Morey ◽  
Brandalyn C. Riedel ◽  
Neda Jahanshad ◽  
Emily L. Dennis ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Pestana Lopes ◽  
Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira ◽  
Lettícia R. de Almeida ◽  
Lilian Milnitsky Stein ◽  
Clarice Luz ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Salminen ◽  
Rajendra A. Morey ◽  
Brandalyn C. Riedel ◽  
Neda Jahanshad ◽  
Emily L. Dennis ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground and PurposePosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a heterogeneous condition associated with a range of brain imaging abnormalities. Early life stress (ELS) contributes to this heterogeneity, but we do not know how a history of ELS influences traditionally defined brain signatures of PTSD. Here we used a novel machine learning method - evolving partitions to improve classification (EPIC) - to identify shared and unique structural neuroimaging markers of ELS and PTSD in 97 combat-exposed military veterans.MethodsWe used EPIC with repeated cross-validation to determine how combinations of cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical brain volumes could contribute to classification of PTSD (n=40) versus controls (n=57), and classification of ELS within the PTSD (ELS+ n=16; ELS-n=24) and control groups (ELS+ n=16; ELS- n=41). Additional inputs included intracranial volume, age, sex, adult trauma, and depression.ResultsOn average, EPIC classified PTSD with 69% accuracy (SD=5%), and ELS with 64% accuracy in the PTSD group (SD=10%), and 62% accuracy in controls (SD=6%). EPIC selected unique sets of individual features that classified each group with 75-85% accuracy in post hoc analyses; combinations of regions marginally improved classification from the individual atlas-defined brain regions. Across analyses, surface area in the right posterior cingulate was the only variable that was repeatedly selected as an important feature for classification of PTSD and ELS.ConclusionsEPIC revealed unique patterns of features that distinguished PTSD and ELS in this sample of combat-exposed military veterans, which may represent distinct biotypes of stress-related neuropathology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaynab Demir ◽  
Kerem Böge ◽  
Yan Fan ◽  
Corinna Hartling ◽  
Mazen R. Harb ◽  
...  

Abstract Early life stress is an important factor in later psychopathology, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of early life stress on psychiatric symptoms within a sample of Syrian refugees. In this model, the use of cognitive emotion regulation strategies was assessed as a potential mediator of the relationship between early life stress and current symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Bootstrap analyses were generated to test the indirect effect of emotion regulation (Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire) on the relationship between early life stress (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), PTSD (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire), depressive (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms in eighty-nine Syrian refugees resided in Germany (n = 49) and Jordan (n = 40). The indirect effect of maladaptive strategies was significant between early life stress and psychopathology, whereas the mediation effect of adaptive strategies was not significant. The findings provide an evidence that emotional dysregulation is an underlying factor affecting psychological symptoms in refugees with adverse childhood experiences. These results suggest targeting cognitive emotion regulation in prospective prevention and treatment strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 315
Author(s):  
Lynn M. Oswald ◽  
Kelly E. Dunn ◽  
David A. Seminowicz ◽  
Carla L. Storr

A robust body of research has shown that traumatic experiences occurring during critical developmental periods of childhood when neuronal plasticity is high increase risks for a spectrum of physical and mental health problems in adulthood, including substance use disorders. However, until recently, relatively few studies had specifically examined the relationships between early life stress (ELS) and opioid use disorder (OUD). Associations with opioid use initiation, injection drug use, overdose, and poor treatment outcome have now been demonstrated. In rodents, ELS has also been shown to increase the euphoric and decrease antinociceptive effects of opioids, but little is known about these processes in humans or about the neurobiological mechanisms that may underlie these relationships. This review aims to establish a theoretical model that highlights the mechanisms by which ELS may alter opioid sensitivity, thereby contributing to future risks for OUD. Alterations induced by ELS in mesocorticolimbic brain circuits, and endogenous opioid and dopamine neurotransmitter systems are described. The limited but provocative evidence linking these alterations with opioid sensitivity and risks for OUD is presented. Overall, the findings suggest that better understanding of these mechanisms holds promise for reducing vulnerability, improving prevention strategies, and prescribing guidelines for high-risk individuals.


1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian I. O'toole ◽  
Richard P. Marshall ◽  
Ralph J. Schureck ◽  
Matthew Dobson

Objective: The aims of this paper are to determine the risk factors for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to examine the relative contribution of pre-military factors, pre-trauma psychiatric diagnoses, military factors such as combat posting, and combat and casualty stress exposure. Method: An epidemiological cohort study using standardised psychiatric, social and health interviews was undertaken with a national random sample of male Australian Army Vietnam veterans. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relative contribution of factors derived from interview and from military records in four categories: pre-enlistment circumstances including home life, education, major life stress; pre-Vietnam psychiatric diagnoses; military experiences before and during Vietnam; and combat and stress experiences. Results: Of the 128 data items examined, significant associations were found for 39, in addition to combat stress. Pre-enlistment items accounted for about 3% of the deviance towards PTSD diagnosis, pre-enlistment psychiatric diagnosis about 13%, military variables about 7% and combat stress about 18%; all factors together accounted for 42%. Conclusions: The results confirm that pre-military and military variables make only a small but significant contribution to PTSD either alone or after controlling for combat stress; that psychiatric diagnoses of depression, dysthymia and agoraphobia make strong contributions to PTSD; but that combat stress makes the largest contribution even after controlling for the effects of other variables. Psychiatric diagnoses and combat stress appear to be independent in their effects on PTSD.


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