Abstract
BackgroundPreclinical studies have demonstrated the relationship between stress-induced increased cortisol levels and atrophy of specific brain regions, however, this association has been less revealed in clinical samples. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes and associations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and gray matter volumes in young healthy adults with self-reported childhood trauma exposures.MethodsTwenty four healthy adults with childhood trauma and 24 age- and gender-matched individuals without childhood trauma were recruited. Each participant collected salivary samples in the morning at four time points: immediately upon awakening, 30, 45, and 60 min after awakening for the assessment of cortisol awakening response (CAR). The 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained on a Philips 3.0 Tesla scanner. Voxel-based morphometry analyses were conducted to compare the gray matter volume between two groups. Correlations of gray matter volume changes with severity of childhood trauma and CAR data were further analyzed.ResultsAdults with self-reported childhood trauma showed an enhanced CAR and decreased gray matter volume in the right middle cingulate gyrus. Moreover, a significant association was observed between salivary cortisol secretions after awaking and the right middle cingulate gyrus volume reduction in subjects with childhood trauma.ConclusionsThe present research outcomes suggest that childhood trauma is associated with hyperactivity of the HPA axis and decreased gray matter volume in the right middle cingulate gyrus, which may represent the vulnerability for developing psychosis after childhood trauma experiences. In addition, this study demonstrates that gray matter loss in the cingulate gyrus is related to increased cortisol levels.
Highlights
Life stress, including childhood trauma, which is very common in our society, has been established as a great risk factor in the subsequent development of multiple psychiatric disorders and unfavorable behavior patterns [1]
Previous studies have investigated the possible pathways from early life stress to psychosis, to date, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association [2]
Findings for hyperactivity of the HPA axis as indicated by increased cortisol and adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH) responses to a psychological stress task [5] and to the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing factor (Dex/CRF) test [3], hypersecretion of salivary cortisol over the daytime hours [6], and enhanced cortisol awakening response (CAR) [7] among individuals with early life stress independent of psychosis diagnosis have been observed in an emerging body of investigations
Summary
Life stress, including childhood trauma, which is very common in our society, has been established as a great risk factor in the subsequent development of multiple psychiatric disorders and unfavorable behavior patterns [1]. Previous studies have investigated the possible pathways from early life stress to psychosis, to date, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association [2]. Biological mechanisms such as dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis [3] and altered volumes of specific brain regions [4] after exposures to early life stress have been reported which may help to elucidate the close relationship between early life stress and onset of psychosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes and associations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and gray matter volumes in young healthy adults with self-reported childhood trauma exposures
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