Self-reported childhood adversity

Self-reported childhood adversity: interrelations with brain, behavioural and state measures in health and mood disorders.

Self-reported childhood adversity (CAd) is a well-known risk factor for developing psychopathologies, and worse clinical course in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), including suicide ideation and behaviours. In this talk, evidence for a relationship among CAd and alterations in brain structure, function and neurometabolism at 3T and 7T, especially in the fronto-limbic circuitry will be presented. Moreover, influence of CAd on behavioural precipitating factors for psychopathological features, such as altered affect processing, impulsiveness and stress response will be discussed. Lastly, suggestions for translation research approaches for detecting targets for treatment, e.g., via behavioural therapies for increasing affect regulation will be mentioned. 

About the Speaker

Lejla Colic, PhD (she/her) is a neuroscientist and a junior group leader at the Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Germany. Her research focuses on early and adulthood adversity in mood disorders, and she uses different neuroimaging techniques to investigate structural and functional alterations related to them.