From childhood adversity to latent stress vulnerability in adulthood: the mediating roles of sleep disturbances and HPA axis dysfunction.
Neuropsychopharmacology
; 48(10): 1425-1435, 2023 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37391592
ABSTRACT
Childhood adversity is a prominent predisposing risk factor for latent stress vulnerability, expressed as an elevated likelihood of developing stress-related psychopathology upon subsequent exposure to trauma in adulthood. Sleep disturbances have emerged as one of the most pronounced maladaptive behavioral outcomes of childhood adversity and are also a highly prevalent core feature of stress-related psychopathology, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After reviewing the extensive literature supporting these claims, the current review addresses the notion that childhood adversity-induced sleep disturbances may play a causal role in elevating individuals' stress vulnerability in adulthood. Corroborating this, sleep disturbances that predate adult trauma exposure have been associated with an increased likelihood of developing stress-related psychopathology post-exposure. Furthermore, novel empirical evidence suggests that sleep disturbances, including irregularity of the sleep-wake cycle, mediate the link between childhood adversity and stress vulnerability in adulthood. We also discuss cognitive and behavioral mechanisms through which such a cascade may evolve, highlighting the putative role of impaired memory consolidation and fear extinction. Next, we present evidence to support the contribution of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to these associations, stemming from its critical role in stress and sleep regulatory pathways. Childhood adversity may yield bi-directional effects within the HPA stress and sleep axes in which sleep disturbances and HPA axis dysfunction reinforce each other, leading to elevated stress vulnerability. To conclude, we postulate a conceptual path model from childhood adversity to latent stress vulnerability in adulthood and discuss the potential clinical implications of these notions, while highlighting directions for future research.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transtornos do Sono-Vigília
/
Experiências Adversas da Infância
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neuropsychopharmacology
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article