Childhood adversity is associated with higher risk of mental health problems in adulthood. This phenomenon is attributable to a stronger response to stress and higher levels of pro-inflammatory molecules in adulthood.

Adverse or traumatic events in childhood, such as abuse, mistreatment and early loss, are known to be associated with an increased risk of developing mental health problems in adulthood. These problems include major depressive and anxiety disorders. Animal studies have shown that adverse environmental conditions can induce a defensive programming of the nervous, hormonal and immune systems that basically serve adaptive purposes. However, the mechanism of the link between trauma in childhood, defensive programming and health risk in adulthood is still elusive. Implication of adaptation of the immune response is suspected.

A new research protocol included 60 healthy adults (45 to 60 year-old); half of which had a history of early childhood adversity. Their hormonal response and the activation of immune cells were monitored following a stressful event (simulated job interview).

Results published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology by researchers from USA and Germany showed that childhood adversity was associated with altered hormonal response to stress (lower ACTH and cortisol responses, two hormones associated with the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis) and higher levels of some pro-inflammatory molecules. These results mean that people that experienced childhood adversity have an exacerbated response to a potentially stressful event.

This study therefore suggests that childhood adversity leads to alterations in stress-responsive pathways persisting through adulthood that might predispose individuals to stress-related psychopathology.

Written By: Jean-Michel Bourget, PhD