Cortical volume alteration in the superior parietal region mediates the relationship between childhood abuse and PTSD avoidance symptoms: A complementary multimodal neuroimaging study

IF 4.3 2区医学 Q1 NEUROSCIENCES

Neurobiology of Stress Pub Date : 2023-11-07 DOI:10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100586

Richard Okyere Nkrumah , Claudius von Schröder , Traute Demirakca , Christian Schmahl , Gabriele Ende

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), which can be separated into abuse and neglect, contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, which brain structures are mainly affected by ACE as well as the mediating role these brain structures play in ACE and PTSS relationship are still being investigated. The current study tested the effect of ACE on brain structure and investigated the latter's mediating role in ACE-PTSS relationship.

Methods

A total of 78 adults with self-reported ACE were included in this study. Participants completed the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) and a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to ascertain ACE history and PTSS, respectively. T1w images and diffusion MRI scans were then acquired to assess cortical morphometry and white matter (WM) integrity in fibre tracts connecting key areas where ACE-related cortical volume alterations were observed.

Results

The combined effect of ACE was negatively associated with total grey matter volume and local cortical area in the right superior parietal region (rSP). Childhood abuse was negatively related to right superior parietal volume after controlling for neglect and overall psychological burden. The right superior parietal volume significantly mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and avoidance-related PTSS. Post-hoc analyses showed that the indirect relation was subsequently moderated by dissociative symptoms. Lastly, a complementary examination of the WM tracts connected to abuse-associated cortical GM regions shows that abuse was negatively related to the normalised fibre density of WM tracts connected to the right superior parietal region.

Conclusion

We provide multimodal structural evidence that ACE in the first years of life is related to alterations in the right superior brain region, which plays a crucial role in spatial processing and attentional functioning. Additionally, we highlight that the cortical volume alteration in this region may play a role in explaining the relationship between childhood abuse and avoidance symptoms.

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上顶叶皮质体积改变介导童年虐待与PTSD回避症状之间的关系:一项互补的多模态神经影像学研究

不良的童年经历(ACE)可分为虐待和忽视，有助于创伤后应激症状(PTSS)的发展。然而，ACE主要影响哪些脑结构以及这些脑结构在ACE与ptsd关系中的中介作用仍在研究中。本研究检验ACE对脑结构的影响，并探讨后者在ACE- ptss关系中的中介作用。方法本研究共纳入78例自报ACE的成人。参与者分别完成童年创伤问卷(CTQ)和创伤后应激障碍检查表(PCL-5)以确定ACE病史和创伤后应激障碍。然后获得T1w图像和弥散MRI扫描，以评估连接关键区域的纤维束的皮层形态测量和白质(WM)完整性，在这些区域观察到与ace相关的皮质体积改变。结果ACE的联合作用与脑灰质总量和右侧顶叶上区局部皮质面积呈负相关。在控制忽视和整体心理负担后，儿童虐待与右顶叶上容积呈负相关。右顶叶上容积显著调节儿童虐待与回避相关性ptsd之间的关系。事后分析表明，这种间接关系随后被分离症状所缓和。最后，对与虐待相关的皮质GM区域相连的WM束的补充检查表明，虐待与与右顶叶上区相连的WM束的正常化纤维密度呈负相关。结论我们提供的多模态结构证据表明，1岁时ACE与右脑上区改变有关，右脑上区在空间加工和注意功能中起着至关重要的作用。此外，我们强调该区域的皮质体积改变可能在解释儿童虐待和回避症状之间的关系中起作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Neurobiology of Stress Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Biochemistry

CiteScore

9.40

自引率

4.00%

发文量

审稿时长

48 days

期刊介绍： Neurobiology of Stress is a multidisciplinary journal for the publication of original research and review articles on basic, translational and clinical research into stress and related disorders. It will focus on the impact of stress on the brain from cellular to behavioral functions and stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders (such as depression, trauma and anxiety). The translation of basic research findings into real-world applications will be a key aim of the journal. Basic, translational and clinical research on the following topics as they relate to stress will be covered: Molecular substrates and cell signaling, Genetics and epigenetics, Stress circuitry, Structural and physiological plasticity, Developmental Aspects, Laboratory models of stress, Neuroinflammation and pathology, Memory and Cognition, Motivational Processes, Fear and Anxiety, Stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders (including depression, PTSD, substance abuse), Neuropsychopharmacology.