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. 2012 Feb 15;71(4):350-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.09.008. Epub 2011 Oct 25.

Child abuse and neglect, MAOA, and mental health outcomes: a prospective examination

Valentina Nikulina  1 , Cathy Spatz Widom, Linda M Brzustowicz
Affiliations

Child abuse and neglect, MAOA, and mental health outcomes: a prospective examination

Valentina Nikulina et al. Biol Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Studies have examined the interaction of MAOA genotype with childhood maltreatment in relation to depressive symptomatology and alcohol abuse with conflicting findings. Both high- and low-activity allele combinations have been shown to be protective for maltreated children with direction of findings varying by study methodology and participants' sex.

Methods: Participants in a prospective cohort design study involving court-substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect and a matched comparison group were followed up into adulthood and interviewed (N = 802). Eighty-two percent consented to provide blood, 631 gave permission for DNA extraction and analyses, and 575 were included in the final sample. This sample included male, female, white, and nonwhite (primarily black) participants. Symptoms of dysthymia, major depression, and alcohol abuse were assessed using the National Institutes of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule-III-R.

Results: Significant three-way interactions, MAOA genotype by abuse by sex, predicted dysthymic symptoms. Low-activity MAOA genotype buffered against symptoms of dysthymia in physically abused and multiply-maltreated women. Significant three-way interactions, MAOA genotype by sexual abuse by race, predicted all outcomes. Low-activity MAOA genotype buffered against symptoms of dysthymia, major depressive disorder, and alcohol abuse for sexually abused white participants. The high-activity genotype was protective in the nonwhite sexually abused group.

Conclusions: This prospective study provides evidence that MAOA interacts with child maltreatment to predict mental health outcomes. Reasons for sex differences and race findings are discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Means of symptoms of dysthymia as a function of MAOA activity and a history of physical abuse and multiple maltreatment in females. MAOA is divided into 3,3 alleles, 4,4 alleles and 3,4 heterozygous. Sexual abuse and multiple maltreatment histories are based on documented court cases. Symptoms of dysthymia were log tranformed to correct for skew. Physically abused or multiply maltreated women with 4,4 high activity genotype were at significantly increased risk (p < .05 for both) for developing dysthymia symptoms than women with 3,3, low-activity genotype. Pattern was absent for non-maltreated females and males.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Means of symptoms of dysthymia, major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse as a function of MAOA activity and a history of sexual abuse in Whites and Non Whites. MAOA is divided into 3,3or 3 alleles, 4,4 or 4 alleles and 3,4 heterozygous females. Sexual abuse histories are based on documented court cases. Symptoms of dysthymia and alcohol abuse were log tranformed to correct for skew. Sexually abused Whites with 4,4 or 4, high activity, genotype were at significantly increased risk (p < .05 for all) for developing dysthymia, major depressive and alcohol symptoms than sexually abused Whites with 3,3 or 3, low-activity, genotype. Sexually abused Non Whites with 3,3 or 3, low activity, genotype were at significantly increased risk (p < .05 for all) for developing dysthymia, major depressive and alcohol symptoms than sexually abused Non-Whites with 4,4 or 4, high-activity genotype.
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Comment in

  • Child abuse and psychiatric illness.
    Kaufman J. Kaufman J. Biol Psychiatry. 2012 Feb 15;71(4):280-1. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.12.006. Biol Psychiatry. 2012. PMID: 22265025 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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