Child Abuse, Neural Structure, and Adolescent Psychopathology: A Longitudinal Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Child abuse exerts a deleterious impact on a broad array of mental health outcomes. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate this association remain poorly characterized. Here, we use a longitudinal design to prospectively identify neural mediators of the association between child abuse and psychiatric disorders in a community sample of adolescents.

Method

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and assessments of mental health were acquired for 51 adolescents (aged 13-20; M=16.96; SD=1.51), 19 of whom were exposed to physical or sexual abuse. Participants were assessed for abuse exposure (time 1), participated in MRI scanning and a diagnostic structured interview (time 2), and 2 years later were followed-up to assess psychopathology (time 3).

SUBMITTER: Busso DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5367472 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature