Childhood abuse and reduced cortical thickness in brain regions involved in emotional processing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alterations in gray matter development represent a potential pathway through which childhood abuse is associated with psychopathology. Several prior studies find reduced volume and thickness of prefrontal (PFC) and temporal cortex regions in abused compared with nonabused adolescents, although most prior research is based on adults and volume-based measures. This study tests the hypothesis that child abuse, independent of parental education, predicts reduced cortical thickness in prefrontal and temporal cortices as well as reduced gray mater volume (GMV) in subcortical regions during adolescence.

Methods

Structural MRI scans were obtained from 21 adolescents exposed to physical and/or sexual abuse and 37 nonabused adolescents (ages 13-20). Abuse was operationalize

SUBMITTER: Gold AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031358 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature