Associations between cortical thickness and anxious/depressive symptoms differ by maltreatment history
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
A variety of childhood experiences can lead to anxious/depressed (A/D) symptoms. The aim of the present study was to explore the neural correlates of A/D symptoms and the extent to which these neural phenotypes vary depending on the quality of the parenting context in which children develop. Structural MRI scans were acquired on 45 children with Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement due to risk of not receiving adequate care (high-risk group) and 25 children without CPS involvement (low-risk group) (range age = 8.08-12.14; Mage=10.05) to assess cortical thickness (CT). A/D symptoms were measured using the Child Behavioral Checklist. The association between CT and A/D symptoms differed by risk status such that high-risk children showed decreasing CT as A/D scores increased, whereas low-risk children showed increasing CT as A/D scores increased. This interaction was specific to CT in prefrontal, frontal, temporal and parietal cortical areas. The groups did not differ in average A/D scores. Results suggest that the neurocortical correlates of A/D symptoms are differentially shaped by the quality of early caregiving experiences and should be distinguished between high- and low-risk children. Variability in CT could either reflect greater engagement of these regions in the service of self-regulatory processes (i.e., a compensatory mechanism), or a potential vulnerability marker for emotion regulation problems.
Description
Keywords
Anxious symptoms, Brain development, Caregiving quality, Cortical thickness, Emotion regulation, Maltreatment, Depressive symptoms