Cited by 170Stress Responses and CortisolChild Abuse and TraumaMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

The impact of maternal childhood abuse on maternal and infant HPA axis function in the postpartum period

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Brand, Sarah R., Brennan, Patricia A., Newport, D. Jeffrey, Smith, Alicia K., Weiss, Tamara, Stowe, Zachary N.·2010·Psychoneuroendocrinology

Abstract

Background Early life trauma, particularly child abuse, has been associated with aberrations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in adulthood. However, the relationship of early abuse and later adult neuroendocrine changes may be moderated by additional factors such as comorbid psychopathology and recent life stress. Parental exposure to child abuse may have transgenerational effects, with offspring of abuse victims showing similar neuroendocrine profiles as their mothers. The majority of previous studies in this area focus on adult offspring, and the degree to which the effects of parental child abuse can be detected earlier in the development of the offspring remains obscure.Methods The current study utilized a clinical sample of women with a history of MDD (N=126), to examine the effects of maternal early life sexual and physical abuse (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)) on both maternal and infant salivary cortisol levels during a laboratory stress paradigm at 6 months postpartum.Results Maternal child abuse was associated with steeper declines in cortisol in the mothers and lower baseline cortisol in their infants. Comorbid maternal PTSD, current maternal depressive symptoms, and recent life stressors were significant moderators of maternal cortisol change. Maternal abuse history was associated with increases in cortisol levels in those mothers who experienced these additional stressors. Similarly, a history of early maternal abuse and comorbid PTSD was associated with greater increases in infant cortisol levels.Conclusions Maternal childhood abuse was associated with HPA axis function in both the mother and the infant during the postpartum period.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.10.009

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  1. First MB Spitzer RL Gibbon M Williams JBW Structural Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders 1995 Washington DC American Psychiatric Press

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Authors
Brand, S. R., Brennan, P. A., Newport, D. J., Smith, A. K., Weiss, T., & Stowe, Z. N.
Affiliations
Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Brand, Sarah R.
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-06
Volume
35
Issue
5
Pages
686-693
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2062341054
Cited by
170
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 3
FWCI
1.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (MH58922, MH68036)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, postpartum period, salivary cortisol, infant cortisol, maternal depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, early trauma, transgenerational effects, life events, stress response, mother-infant dyads
MeSH terms
Adult, Depression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Saliva, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Postpartum Period, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse

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