Ghosts from the past? The association between childhood interpersonal trauma, attachment and anxiety and depression in late life

Abstract

Objectives. Research suggests that vulnerability for anxiety and depression in late life results from a complex interaction between (neuro)biological and environmental factors. In this context, there is growing evidence for the role of childhood trauma on vulnerability for both anxiety and depression throughout the course of life, mainly through its effects on attachment as a biologically based neurodevelopmental stress regulation system. Yet, the impact of childhood trauma on depression and anxiety in late life specifically remains unclear. The current study therefore aims to investigate the association between retrospectively reported childhood interpersonal trauma, attachment dimensions and levels of anxiety and depression in late life. Method. A sample of 81 community dwelling older adults completed measures of early and current adversity, attachment dimensions, and levels of anxiety and depression. Results. The occurrence and frequency of childhood trauma, but not later negative adult life events, was associated with late life anxiety and depression. Both attachment anxiety and avoidance were related to anxiety and depression. Only attachment anxiety affected the association between childhood trauma, and emotional neglect in particular, and late life anxiety and depression. Conclusion. Childhood trauma may be associated with anxiety and depression in late life. Part of this association is probably indirect, via the effect of insecure attachment and high levels of attachment anxiety in particular.

Development of Threat Expression Following Infant Maltreatment: Infant and Adult Enhancement but Adolescent Attenuation

“…However, this open system also leaves the brain vulnerable to programming by trauma, with programming that goes beyond adaptation to initiate a pathological developmental pathway. Childhood trauma experiences, especially when associated with the caregiver (as occurs in maltreatment), are associated with mental health issues, including PTSD, anxiety and other threat processing-related pathologies (De Bellis et al, 1999; Anda et al, 2006; Andersen et al, 2008; McEwen and Gregerson, 2019; Van Assche et al, 2019), which has been modeled in rodents and non-human primates (Harlow and Harlow, 1965; Brenhouse and Andersen, 2011; Drury et al, 2015; Perry et al, 2017; Callaghan et al, 2019). One challenge to understanding how maltreatment causes threat-associated pathologies is the protracted and dynamic maturation of the threat system, which morphs through childhood, adolescence and adulthood as life and environmental demands change to produce unique expression patterns across the lifespan (Anda et al, 2006; Moffitt et al, 2007; Gilbert et al, 2009; Green et al, 2010; Callaghan et al, 2019).…”

“We can’t carry the weight of the whole world”: illness experiences among Peruvian older adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety

“…Fourth, interventions for older adults from underserved areas should systematically screen for childhood traumatic experiences. Attachment-based psychological interventions appear beneficial for individuals with adverse experiences [ 47 ]. Fifth, personal responsibility to cope with depression and anxiety is a natural coping mechanism.…”

"We can’t carry the weight of the whole world": Illness experiences among Peruvian older adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety

“…Fourth, interventions for older adults from underserved areas should systematically screen for childhood traumatic experiences. Attachment-based psychological interventions appear bene cial for individuals with adverse experiences (47). Fifth, personal responsibility to cope with depression and anxiety is a natural coping mechanism.…”