Child maltreatment and later cognitive functioning: a systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review sought to assess the impact of child maltreatment on cognitive functioning. Seventeen papers from Medline, PsycINFO, Embase and Amed (1995-2011) databases were analyzed based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The studies have shown that maltreatment during childhood has deleterious effects on cognitive functioning. Overall, adults or children/teenagers exposed to abuse during childhood performed poorly on tasks meant to assess verbal episodic memory, working memory, attention, and executive functions. We conclude that child maltreatment is a risk factor for short and long-term development due to potential adverse effects on cognitive functioning. ResumoEste estudo buscou investigar os efeitos da exposição a maus-tratos sobre o funcionamento cognitivo através do método de revisão sistemática da literatura. Pelos bancos de dados Medline, PsycINFO, Embase e Amed (1995-2011), a partir de critérios de inclusão/exclusão, foram recuperados e analisados 17 trabalhos.Os estudos mostraram que há um efeito deletério de experiências de maus-tratos na infância no funcionamento cognitivo. De maneira geral, adultos ou crianças/adolescentes que sofreram maus-tratos na infância demonstraram um perfi l cognitivo inferior em tarefas que examinaram memória verbal episódica, memória de trabalho, atenção e componentes das funções executivas. Conclui-se que maus-tratos sofridos na infância constituem fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento, tanto a curto quanto a longo-prazo, pois podem acarretar prejuízos cognitivos. Palavras-chave: Maus tratos, funcionamento cognitivo, memória, funções executivas.

Adverse childhood experiences and cognitive function among adults with excess adiposity

“…In addition to decreased executive control, ACEs were also associated with poorer episodic memory in this sample, which is consistent with previous studies . Episodic memory is a type of declarative memory ability that allows a person to remember specific experiences and events in a temporal sequence and is typically linked to the context and emotions surrounding the experience .…”

“…ACEs include traumatic events or maltreatment such as abuse, household challenges, and deprivation/neglect. ACEs have deep theoretical ties to disrupted neurodevelopment, strong lines of empirical support from the animal literature, and emerging evidence in human samples—all indicating that ACEs are associated with detriments to neurocognitive/brain function . These adverse events are linked to impairment across brain structures and neurocognitive functions and are expected to yield difficulties in both fluid and crystallized cognitive domains …”

“…In sum, ACEs and obesity have been linked to one another since the original ACE study and, more recently, to adverse neurocognitive effects. Accordingly, understanding the relationships between ACEs, neurocognitive function, and indicators of brain health may be important in any effort to combat the onset or progression of neurocognitive dysfunction and obesity—especially given that poorer neurocognitive function is not only a consequence of ACEs and obesity but may also adversely impact a person's weight loss treatment outcomes via mediating and/or moderating effects …”

No gene-by-environment interaction of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and childhood maltreatment on anxiety sensitivity in a mixed race adolescent sample

“…Nevertheless, the main effect of CM on AS determined in this study provides support for the positive association between CM, including stressful life events, and AS in adolescents (McLaughlin & Hatzenbuehler, 2009; Tollenaar, Molendijk, Penninx, Milaneschi, & Antypa, 2017), a well-established cognitive risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders and associated symptoms in youth (Hishinuma et al, 2001; McLaughlin et al, 2007; Muris et al, 2001). Furthermore, our finding adds to the well-established literature demonstrating the adverse acute and long-term effects of CM or trauma on mental health and cognition in youth and adults (De Bellis, Woolley, & Hooper, 2013; Greger, Myhre, Lydersen, & Jozefiak, 2015; Irigaray et al, 2013; Taillieu, Brownridge, Sareen, & Afifi, 2016; Teicher, Ohashi, Lowen, Polcari, & Fitzmaurice, 2015). …”

Reações Pós-Traumáticas em Crianças: Como, Por Que e Quais Aspectos Avaliar?

“…Maus-tratos na infância apresentam efeitos duradouros na saúde mental, como problemas com álcool e drogas, comportamento sexual de risco, obesidade, queda no desempenho escolar, comportamentos criminosos, risco de suicídio, além de vulnerabilidade aumentada para psicopatologias, desencadeadas tanto na infância quanto na idade adulta (Gilbert et al, 2009;Irigaray et al, 2013;Wherry, Baldwin, Junco & Floyd, 2013). Por exemplo, estudo realizado a partir dos dados do National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), cujo objetivo era verificar a relação entre abuso sexual na infância e transtornos psiquiátricos subsequentes na população geral norteamericana, encontrou que a prevalência de diagnósticos mentais ao longo da vida foi mais alta entre aqueles que sofreram abuso sexual na infância (Molnar, Buka, & Kessler, 2001).…”