Citation

Lippard ETC, Nemeroff CB. Am. J. Psychiatry 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Early Life Adversity Research, and Mulva Clinic for Neuroscience, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin (Lippard, Nemeroff); Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin (Lippard, Nemeroff); and Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin (Lippard).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010020

PMID

31537091

Abstract

A large body of evidence has demonstrated that exposure to childhood maltreatment at any stage of development can have long-lasting consequences. It is associated with a marked increase in risk for psychiatric and medical disorders. This review summarizes the literature investigating the effects of childhood maltreatment on disease vulnerability for mood disorders, specifically summarizing cross-sectional and more recent longitudinal studies demonstrating that childhood maltreatment is more prevalent and is associated with increased risk for first mood episode, episode recurrence, greater comorbidities, and increased risk for suicidal ideation and attempts in individuals with mood disorders. It summarizes the persistent alterations associated with childhood maltreatment, including alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to disease vulnerability and a more pernicious disease course. The authors discuss several candidate genes and environmental factors (for example, substance use) that may alter disease vulnerability and illness course and neurobiological associations that may mediate these relationships following childhood maltreatment. Studies provide insight into modifiable mechanisms and provide direction to improve both treatment and prevention strategies.

Language: en

Keywords

Bipolar Disorder; Depression; Maltreatment; Posttraumatic Stress