The impact of childhood sexual abuse on activation of immunological and neuroendocrine response

Abstract

The present article focuses on the impact of childhood sexual abuse on inducing neuroendocrine and immunological response. The sources used in this article to investigate studies that showed association between childhood sexual abuse and activation of immunological and neuroendocrine response were from the MedLine-PubMed databases from 1991 to 2008. From 34 articles were selected 17 studies on the influence of childhood sexual abuse on the activation of immunological and neuroendocrine response. Furthermore, other publications on the effects of early stress on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, cytokines, and amygdala–hippocampus complex were also selected. Childhood sexual abuse may result in hyperactivation of the HPA axis, with amygdala hyperfunction, and decreased activity of the hippocampus (defective glucocorticoid-negative feedback). The early stress has been associated with increased plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, increased, and prolonged secretion of CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), and excessive or insufficient cortisol. Childhood sexual abuse has been associated with dysfunction of immunological and neuroendocrine response. There are activations of the HPA axis, the proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α) production from macrophages, the autonomic nervous system, and the amygdala–hippocampus complex.