Citation

Buss C, Entringer S, Moog NK, Toepfer P, Fair DA, Simhan HN, Heim CM, Wadhwa PD. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2017; 56(5): 373-382.

Affiliation

University of California-Irvine and the University of California-Irvine Development, Health and Disease Research Program.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.001

PMID

28433086

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Growing evidence suggests the deleterious consequences of exposure to childhood maltreatment (CM) not only might endure over the exposed individual's lifespan but also might be transmitted across generations. The time windows, mechanisms, and targets of such intergenerational transmission are poorly understood. The prevailing paradigm posits that mother-to-child transmission of the effects of maternal CM likely occurs after her child's birth. The authors seek to extend this paradigm and advance a transdisciplinary framework that integrates the concepts of biological embedding of life experiences and fetal origins of health and disease risk.

METHOD: The authors posit that the period of embryonic and fetal life represents a particularly sensitive time for intergenerational transmission; that the developing brain represents a target of particular interest; and that stress-sensitive maternal-placental-fetal biological (endocrine, immune) pathways represent leading candidate mechanisms of interest.

RESULTS: The plausibility of this model is supported by theoretical considerations and empirical findings in humans and animals. The authors synthesize several research areas and identify important knowledge gaps that might warrant further study.

CONCLUSION: The scientific and public health relevance of this effort relates to achieving a better understanding of the "when," "what," and "how" of intergenerational transmission of CM, with implications for early identification of risk, prevention, and intervention.

Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

brain development; intergenerational transmission; maternal childhood maltreatment; psychopathology