title: Adverse childhood experiences and autonomic regulation in response to acute stress: the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After a previous report demonstrated blunted heart rate (HR) reactivity in association with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) [Voellmin, A., Winzeler, K., Hug, E., Wilhelm, F. H., Schaefer, V., Gaab, J., … Bader, K. (2015). Blunted endocrine and cardiovascular reactivity in young healthy women reporting a history of childhood adversity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51, 58-67. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.09.008 ], the present analysis aimed at clarifying the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system in this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighteen healthy young women provided data on ACEs and underwent psychosocial stress testing. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA, quantified by high-frequency HR variability) were assessed as measures of sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular activity, respectively. A mediation model was calculated to test the indirect effects of ACEs on HR via SBP and RSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect of ACEs on HR reactivity was mediated by SBP reactivity but not by RSA reactivity. ACEs were associated with reduced SBP at rest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACEs were associated with down-regulation in a measure of sympathetic but no alteration in a measure of parasympathetic cardiovascular stress reactivity in adulthood. Future research will need to clarify whether this indicates risk or resilience.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Specific Psychotherapy, CBT Unit , Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winzeler
authors.affiliation: a Center for Specific Psychotherapy, CBT Unit , Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voellmin
authors.affiliation: a Center for Specific Psychotherapy, CBT Unit , Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.|b Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Evelin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hug
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology, Division of General and Biological Psychology , University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kirmse
authors.affiliation: a Center for Specific Psychotherapy, CBT Unit , Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helmig
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Science , University of Bern, Inselspital , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Princip
authors.affiliation: e Center for Chronobiology , Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cajochen
authors.affiliation: a Center for Specific Psychotherapy, CBT Unit , Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.affiliation: f Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, & Health Psychology , University of Salzburg , Salzburg , Austria.
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D065809:Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013557:Switzerland; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Sympathetic nervous system; childhood adversity; heart rate variability; parasympathetic nervous system; trauma; vagus nerve