Work

Preliminary Evidence for Sensitive Periods in the Effect of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Regional Brain Development

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Volumetric MRI scans from 26 women with repeated episodes of childhood sexual abuse and 17 healthy female comparison subjects (ages 18-22 years) were analyzed for sensitive period effects on hippocampal and amygdala volume, frontal cortex gray matter volume and corpus callosum area. Hippocampal volume was reduced in association with childhood sexual abuse at ages 3-5 years and ages 11-13 years. Corpus callosum was reduced with childhood sexual abuse at ages 9-10 years, and frontal cortex was attenuated in subjects with childhood sexual abuse at ages 14-16 years. Brain regions have unique windows of vulnerability to the effects of traumatic stress.

Source: Journal of Neuropsychiatry

DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20.3.292

Authors: S. L. Andersen, A. Tomada, E. S. Vincow, E. Valente, A. Polcari, M. H. Teicher

Institutions: Harvard University, McLean Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: McLean Hospital, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse