Transmission of the adverse consequences of childhood maltreatment across generations: Focus on gestational biology

Nora K Moog; Christine M Heim; Sonja Entringer; Hyagriv N Simhan; Pathik D Wadhwa; Claudia Buss

doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173372

Transmission of the adverse consequences of childhood maltreatment across generations: Focus on gestational biology

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2022 Apr:215:173372. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173372. Epub 2022 Mar 5.

Authors

Nora K Moog¹, Christine M Heim², Sonja Entringer³, Hyagriv N Simhan⁴, Pathik D Wadhwa⁵, Claudia Buss⁶

Affiliations

¹ Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany.
² Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
³ Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁵ Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA.
⁶ Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology, Berlin, Germany; Development, Health, and Disease Research Program, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA. Electronic address: claudia.buss@charite.de.

PMID: 35259415
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173372

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has well-established consequences for the mental and physical health of the exposed individual. Accumulating evidence now suggests that the detrimental sequelae of CM may be transmitted from one generation to the next, thereby extending the long-term ramifications of early adverse experiences and constituting intergenerational continuity in poor health outcomes. In this review, the current state of knowledge on the intergenerational effects of maternal exposure to CM is summarized and transmission pathways are discussed, specifically direct as well as indirect pathways involving variation in gestational biology. The review begins with a definition of CM and an overview of the clinical and neurobiological consequences of CM in the exposed and the offspring generation. The intrauterine period and variation in gestational biology are identified as a potential time window and a mechanism of transmission, respectively. Furthermore, a summary of the available evidence supporting both direct and indirect effects of gestational biological variation on offspring development is included. Finally, knowledge gaps and challenges in the investigation of the role of gestational biological mechanisms in the intergenerational transmission of CM sequelae are addressed and considerations for future study designs along with experiences from our current studies are provided.

Keywords: Childhood maltreatment; Gestational biology; Intergenerational transmission; Maternal behavior; Neurodevelopment; Pregnancy.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biology
Child
Child Abuse*
Female
Humans
Maternal Exposure*
Mothers

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding