The impact of maternal childhood abuse on maternal and infant HPA axis function in the postpartum period.
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.
Brand
Sarah R
SR
Department of Psychology, Emory University, United States. sbrand@emory.edu
Brennan
Patricia A
PA
Newport
D Jeffrey
DJ
Smith
Alicia K
AK
Weiss
Tamara
T
Stowe
Zachary N
ZN
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D006854:Hydrocortisone