Rethinking adversity and psychopathology as multidimensional constructs: identifying shared patterns of brain dysconnectivity

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that experiences of adversity interact with genetic vulnerability to shape brain development in ways that increase risk for psychopathology. However, the complexity of these interactions—and the multidimensional nature of both adversity and psychopathology symptom presentations—has made it challenging to identify consistent mechanistic pathways or patterns. This review uses conceptual framework that integrates pleiotropic genetic risk, epigenetic modifications, and neurobiological signaling pathways to provide an overview for how adversity may shape neurodevelopmental processes and alter large-scale brain network connectivity. Drawing on the triple network model and existing empirical work, the review synthesizes how specific features of adversity may map onto patterns of dysconnectivity in the salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), and frontoparietal network (FPN). These network-level changes appear to align with transdiagnostic symptom dimensions: for instance, hypoconnectivity patterns are more commonly associated with neglect dimensions and “negative” symptoms (e.g., anhedonia, cognitive impairments), while hyperconnectivity patterns are linked to trauma dimensions and “positive” symptoms (e.g., hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts). The review concludes by highlighting the value of a multidimensional frameworks of both adversity and psychopathology to guide future research on mechanistic and transdiagnostic pathways from adversity to psychopathology, particularly work on neural networks.