Cited by 166Child Abuse and TraumaStress Responses and CortisolAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Childhood trauma history differentiates amygdala response to sad faces within MDD

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Grant, Merida M., Cannistraci, Christopher, Hollon, Steven D., Gore, John, Shelton, Richard·2011·Journal of Psychiatric Research

Abstract

Objective Heightened amygdala reactivity to aversive stimuli in major depression is regarded as a core feature of the underlying physiology but individual differences in amygdala response may also arise secondary to persistent changes in limbic function during early neurodevelopment relative to stressors such as childhood trauma. We sought to determine whether heightened amygdala response is a core feature of depression or a general risk factor for psychopathology secondary to early life stress. Method Twenty unipolar depressed patients with and without a history of significant early life trauma and 16 healthy comparison subjects underwent functional MRI in a cross-sectional study comparing neural response to sad and neutral faces. Results We observed a robust positive correlation between physical abuse and right amygdala response. A much weaker relationship with other forms of abuse and neglect was also found, suggesting differences between abuse subtypes and amygdala response. Group differences in amygdala response suggest heightened reactivity was not characteristic of persons with depression in general but was true primarily in those with a significant history of abuse. Conclusion These findings suggest the relationship between childhood trauma and risk for depression is mediated by heightened amygdala response but varies by abuse type. Preliminary evidence for two distinct depression phenotypes based on trauma history was also supported, consistent with differential etiology.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.12.004

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  • The relation between ELS/CT and risk for adult depression is mediated by preceding amygdala hyperactivity.

    “In addition, some studies even suggested that the relation between ELS/CT and risk for adult depression is actually mediated by this preceding amygdala hyperactivity (448, 449).”

    From Developmental Trajectories of Early Life Stress and Trauma: A Narrative Review on Neurobiological Aspects Beyond Stress System Dysregulation (2019) · cites this paper as [449]

    The Results report that childhood physical abuse correlated with greater right-amygdala response to sad faces, including among participants with depression. The Discussion suggests heightened amygdala response may be part of the long-term effects of stress that increase risk for psychopathology. But the study did not establish that amygdala hyperactivity preceded adult depression or mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and depression risk; its Limitations call for prospective research. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Experiences of deprivation may be more likely to lead to blunted ventral striatum reactivity to reward than experiences of threat, while both types of ELA can produce heightened amygdala reactivity to threat.

    “Experiences of deprivation may be more likely to lead to blunted VS reactivity to reward than experiences of threat,112 while both types of ELA can produce a pattern of heightened amygdala reactivity to threat.63,86,94,95”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. First MB Spitzer RL Gibbon M Williams JBW Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Non-patient Edition (SCID-I/NP) 2002 November New York, NY Biometrics Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute

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Authors
Grant, M. M., Cannistraci, C., Hollon, S. D., Gore, J., & Shelton, R.
Affiliations
  • Vanderbilt University (US)
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Grant, Merida M.
Venue
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-07
Volume
45
Issue
7
Pages
886-895
ISSN
0022-3956 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1994014181
Cited by
166
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 8
FWCI
12.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Psychiatric Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (1 UL1 RR024975, K01 MH073092, K02 MH01697, R01 MH60713)
  • National Center for Research Resources
  • National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
childhood trauma, major depressive disorder, amygdala reactivity, physical abuse, neglect, early life stress, depression subtypes, limbic system
MeSH terms
Adult, Affect, Amygdala, Attention, Child, Child Abuse, Cross-Sectional Studies, Major Depressive Disorder, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Individuality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Reaction Time, Reference Values, Saliva, Young Adult

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