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. 2024 Dec 16:1-14.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291724002393. Online ahead of print.

Triangulating the associations of different types of childhood adversity and first-episode psychosis with cortical thickness across brain regions

Natalia E Fares-Otero  1   2   3   4 , Norma Verdolini  1   2   3   4   5 , Helena Melero  6 , Pablo Andrés-Camazón  7 , Enric Vilajosana  3 , Vito Cavone  7 , Borja García-Bueno  8 , Marta Rapado-Castro  7   9 , Ana Izquierdo  10 , David Martín-Hernández  8 , Pablo Mola Cárdenes  11 , Itziar Leal  10 , Monica Dompablo  12   13 , Ana Ortiz-Tallo  10 , Isabel Martinez-Gras  12 , Ainoa Muñoz-Sanjose  14 , Carmen Loeck de Lapuerta  15 , Roberto Rodriguez-Jimenez  12 , Marina Díaz Marsá  11 , Maria-Fe Bravo-Ortiz  14 , Angela Ibañez  15 , Enrique Baca-García  16   17 , Eduard Vieta  1   2   3   4 , J L Ayuso-Mateos  10 , Norberto Malpica  18 , Celso Arango  7 , Covadonga M Díaz-Caneja  7 , Joaquim Radua  2   3   4
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Free article

Triangulating the associations of different types of childhood adversity and first-episode psychosis with cortical thickness across brain regions

Natalia E Fares-Otero et al. Psychol Med. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Both childhood adversity (CA) and first-episode psychosis (FEP) have been linked to alterations in cortical thickness (CT). The interactive effects between different types of CAs and FEP on CT remain understudied.

Methods: One-hundred sixteen individuals with FEP (mean age = 23.8 ± 6.9 years, 34% females, 80.2% non-affective FEP) and 98 healthy controls (HCs) (mean age = 24.4 ± 6.2 years, 43% females) reported the presence/absence of CA <17 years using an adapted version of the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse (CECA.Q) and the Retrospective Bullying Questionnaire (RBQ) and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Correlation analyses were used to assess associations between brain maps of CA and FEP effects. General linear models (GLMs) were performed to assess the interaction effects of CA and FEP on CT.

Results: Eighty-three individuals with FEP and 83 HCs reported exposure to at least one CA. CT alterations in FEP were similar to those found in participants exposed to separation from parents, bullying, parental discord, household poverty, and sexual abuse (r = 0.50 to 0.25). Exposure to neglect (β = -0.24, 95% CI [-0.37 to -0.12], p = 0.016) and overall maltreatment (β = -0.13, 95% CI [-0.20 to -0.06], p = 0.043) were associated with cortical thinning in the right medial orbitofrontal region.

Conclusions: Cortical alterations in individuals with FEP are similar to those observed in the context of socio-environmental adversity. Neglect and maltreatment may contribute to CT reductions in FEP. Our findings provide new insights into the specific neurobiological effects of CA in early psychosis.

Keywords: MRI; adolescents; adults; brain structure; bullying; childhood maltreatment; early life adversity; early psychosis; frontal cortex; neglect; neuroimaging; stress.

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