title: Impact of childhood stress on psychopathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advances in our knowledge of mental disorder (MD) genetics have contributed to a better understanding of their pathophysiology. Nonetheless, several questions and doubts persist. Recent studies have focused on environmental influences in the development of MDs, and the advent of neuroscientific methodologies has provided new perspectives. Early life events, such as childhood stress, may affect neurodevelopment through mechanisms such as gene-environment interactions and epigenetic regulation, thus leading to diseases in adulthood. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence regarding the role of the environment, particularly childhood stress, in the pathophysiology of MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed articles that evaluated environmental influences, with a particular focus on childhood trauma, brain morphology, cognitive functions, and the development of psychopathology and MD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI studies have shown that exposure to trauma at an early age can result in several neurostructural changes, such as the reduction of the hippocampus and corpus callosum. Cognitive performance and functioning are also altered in this population. Finally, childhood stress is related to an increased risk of developing MD such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and substance abuse. We conclude that there is robust evidence of the role of the environment, specifically adverse childhood experiences, in various aspects of MD.
authors: Recognition and Intervention in Individuals in at-Risk Mental States, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. elisabrietzke@hotmail.com
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Brietzke
authors: Márcia
authors: M
authors: Kauer Sant'anna
authors: Andréa
authors: A
authors: Jackowski
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Grassi-Oliveira
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Bucker
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Zugman
authors: Rodrigo Barbachan
authors: RB
authors: Mansur
authors: Rodrigo Affonseca
authors: RA
authors: Bressan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011599:Psychopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*