The effects of child abuse and neglect on cognitive functioning in adulthood

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• 作者：Felicia Gould^a ; Jennifer Clarke^a ; ^b ; Christine Heim^c ; Philip D. Harvey^a ; Matthias Majer^c ; Charles B. Nemeroff^a ; ^{cnemeroff@med.miami.edu}
• 关键词：ELS ; Cognition ; Child abuse
• 刊名：Journal of Psychiatric Research
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：169_00223956
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：April, 2012
• 卷：46
• 期：4
• 页码：500-506
• 文件大小：515 K

摘要

Aims

Recent research has revealed that early life trauma (ELS), including abuse (sexual and/or physical) and neglect, produce lasting changes in the CNS. We posited that cognitive deficits, often observed in psychiatric patients, result, in part, due to the neurobiological consequences of ELS. Additionally, we hypothesized that the nature and magnitude of cognitive deficits would differ according to the subtype of ELS experienced.

Method

The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was used to assess neurocognitive functioning in 93 subjects (60 with ELS and 33 without). In the patients with a history of ELS, 35%and 16.7%, respectively, met criteria for current major depression and PTSD.

Results

Significant associations between ELS status and CANTAB measures of memory and executive and emotional functioning were found.

Conclusions

These data suggest that exposure to ELS results in a cascade of neurobiological changes associated with cognitive deficits in adulthood that vary according to the type of trauma experienced.