Brain area-related neurological soft signs in depressive patients with different types of childhood maltreatment

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the effects of childhood maltreatment on neurological soft signs (NSS) associated with certain brain area in depressive patients.

Methods: One hundred three depressive patients were enrolled into this study, and evaluated by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), brain area-related neurological examination scale, 24-item Hamilton Rating scale (HAMD24), the scale for suicidal ideation (SSI) and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).

Results: Patients undergoing childhood maltreatment exhibited higher frontal area-related NSS scores than patients without childhood maltreatment experience. Patients experiencing childhood emotional or physical neglect displayed more frontal area-related NSS compared to their respective non-maltreatment group. Moreover, physical neglect maltreatment caused more temporal area-related NSS. Patients suffering from childhood sexual abuse had more frontal, temporal and occipital area-related NSS than patients lacking experience of childhood sexual abuse. Further correlation analysis revealed that the total score of maltreatment positively correlated with frontal and temporal area-related NSS score. There was a positive correlation between emotional abuse, emotional neglect or physical abuse and frontal area-related NSS. Physical neglect and sexual abuse were positively associated with the temporal area-related NSS score. HAMD24 score was positively correlated with all brain area-related NSS score; The SSI score correlated with three area (excluded occipital area)-related NSS score. The BHS score only positively correlated with frontal area score of NSS. Finally, no significant association was found between suicidal frequencies and brain area-related NSS score.

Discussion: Childhood maltreatment adversely affects the brain of depressive patients; the different maltreatment may impair different brain areas, especially frontal and temporal areas.

Keywords: brain area; childhood maltreatment; depression; neurological soft sign.