The role of childhood trauma in the neurobiology of mood and anxiety disorders: Preclinical and clinical studies

Epidemiologic studies indicate that children exposed to early adverse exper iences are at increased risk for the development of depression, anxiety dis orders, or both. Persistent sensitization of central nervous system (CNS) c ircuits as a consequence of early life stress, which are integrally involve d in the regulation of stress and emotion, may represent the underlying bio logical substrate of art increased vulnerability to subsequent stress as we ll as to the development of depression and anxiety, A number of preclinical studies suggest that early life stress induces long-lived hyper(re)activit y of corticotropin - releasing factor (CRF) systems as well as alterations in other neurotransmitter systems, resulting in increased stress responsive ness. Many of the findings from these preclinical studies are comparable to findings in adult patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Emerging evide nce from clinical studies suggests that exposure to early life stress is as sociated with neurobiological changes in children and adults, which may und erlie the increased risk of psychopathology. Current research is focused on strategies to prevent or reverse the detrimental effects of early life str ess on the CNS The identification of the neurobiological substrates of earl y adverse experience is of paramount importance for the development of nove l treatments for children, adolescents, and adults.