Mind and Body, Environment and Genes:

Interactions Between Childhood Trauma and Physiological Systems

(one of my soul-sucking term papers)

Childhood trauma—whether physical abuse, sexual abuse, or severe neglect—is associated with various forms of psychopathology, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, and substance use disorders. Why does childhood trauma predispose a person to psychopathology? Perhaps the predisposition comes from interactions between trauma and biology during early development. Early trauma impacts the gene expression of neurotransmitters, immune cells, and endocrine hormones that have far-reaching effects on neurological structures, activation patterns, and functional networks. These neurodevelopmental deficits make the brain more sensitive to trauma. Evidence of the relationship between childhood trauma and physiological alterations suggest an underlying mechanism for developing PTSD.

Keywords: childhood trauma; PTSD; gene expression; serotonin; cortisol; glucocorticoid; HPA axis; hippocampus; amygdala; emotion processing; somatic syndromes

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