title: Early deprivation, atypical brain development, and internalizing symptoms in late childhood.
abstract: Children exposed to extreme early-life neglect such as in institutional rearing are at heightened risk for developing depression and anxiety disorders, and internalizing problems more broadly. These outcomes are believed to be due to alterations in the development of neural circuitry that supports emotion regulation. The specific neurodevelopmental changes that contribute to these difficulties are largely unknown. This study examined whether microstructural alterations in white matter pathways predicted long-term risk for internalizing problems in institutionally reared children. Data from 69 children were drawn from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project, a randomized clinical trial of foster care for institutionally reared children. White matter was assessed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) when children were between 8 and 10years of age. Internalizing symptoms were assessed at the time of the MRI scan, and once children reached 12-14years of age. Results indicated that neglect-associated alterations in the external capsule and corpus callosum partially explained links between institutional rearing status and internalizing symptoms in middle childhood and early adolescence. Findings shed light on neural mechanisms contributing to increased risk for emotional difficulties among children reared in adverse conditions and have implications for prevention and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, United States; Harvard Medical School, United States.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bick
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, United States.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Tulane University, United States.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeanah
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, United States; Harvard Medical School, United States; Harvard Graduate School of Education, United States; Harvard Center on the Developing Child, United States. Electronic address: Charles_nelson@harvard.edu.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019372:Orphanages; D012737:Sex Factors; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: DTI; anxiety; depression; institutional rearing; late childhood; white matter