Disrupted reinforcement learning and maladaptive behavior in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse: a high-density event-related potential study.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been associated with psychopathology, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), and high-risk behaviors. Despite the epidemiological data available, the mechanisms underlying these maladaptive outcomes remain poorly understood.

Objective

We examined whether a history of CSA, particularly in conjunction with a past episode of MDD, is associated with behavioral and neural dysfunction in reinforcement learning, and whether such dysfunction is linked to maladaptive behavior.

Design

Participants completed a clinical evaluation and a probabilistic reinforcement task while 128-channel event-related potentials were recorded.

Setting

Academic setting; participants recruited from the community.

Participants

Fifteen w

SUBMITTER: Pechtel P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3642225 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature