児童虐待の脳発達におよぼす影響と敏感期に関する研究

2009 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19591210
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: 友田 明美 Kumamoto University, 大学院・生命科学研究部, 准教授 (80244135)
• Keywords: 社会医学 / 脳・神経 / 臨床 / ストレス / 感受性期

Research Abstract

乳幼児期にDVに曝された子どもが様々な精神症状を呈し,DV以外の被虐待児に比べてトラウマ反応が生じ易いことがこれまで報告されている.しかしながら,DVに曝されて育った子ども達の脳への影響はこれまで報告されていない.我々は,小児期にDVを目撃して育った経験が発達脳にどのような影響を及ぼすのかを検討するため,米国ハーバード大学精神科との共同研究で得られた被験者を対象に高解像度MRIの形態および機能画像解析を行った.小児期に両親間のDV目撃(平均4.1years)を経験した者15名(18-25歳,男4,女11名)と,利き手,年齢,両親の学歴,生活環境要因をマッチさせた体罰・虐待歴や精神科疾患を有しない健常対照者33名(18-25歳,男10,女23名)を対象とした.全ての被験者はいかなる投薬治療も受けていなかった.脳形態および脳機能画像解析(Voxel-Based Morphometry, Voxel-Based Relaxometry)には3テスラで得られた高解像度MRI画像を用いた.
解析の結果,健常群に比べ,右の視覚野(17・18野:舌状・楔状回)の容積がDV暴露群では顕著に減少していた(P=0.001,Corrected cluster level).またDV暴露群で,右の中後頭回(18野)の脳血流量が増加していた(P<0.035,Corrected cluster level).同部位の神経活動の過敏性または過活動を示唆する所見と考えられた.
2004年に国内でも児童虐待防止法が改正され「DVを目撃させることも心理的虐待に当たる」と認識された.今回の検討で,DVに曝されて育った小児期のトラウマが視覚野の発達に影響を及ぼしていることが示唆され,"こころ"に負った傷は容易には癒やされないことが予想された.DV家庭で育った子ども達の精神発達を慎重に見守ることの重要性を強調したい.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Exposure to parental verbal abuse is associated with increased gray matter volume in superior temporal gyrus (2010)
  • Author(s): Tomoda A, Sheu Y, Rabi K, Suzuki H, Navalta C, Polcari A, Teicher MH.
  • Journal Title: NeuroImage (in press)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Temperament and character as predictors of fatigue-induced symptoms among school children in Japan : A 1-year follow-up study (2010)
  • Author(s): Yamano E, Fukuda S, Joudoi T, Mizuno K, Tanaka M, Kataoka Y, Kawatani J, Takano M, Tomoda A, Imai-Matsumura K, Miike T, Matsuda F, Watanabe Y
  • Journal Title: Comprehensive Psychiatry (in press)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Childhood sexual abuse is associated with reduced gray matter volume in visual cortex of young women. Biol Psychiatry (2009)
  • Author(s): Tomoda A, Navalta C, Polcari A, Sadato N, Teicher MH
  • Journal Title: Biological Psychiatry 66(7) Pages: 642-648
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Childhood chronic fatigue syndrome and school phobia in junior high students in Japan (2009)
  • Author(s): Jodoi T, Kawatani J, Shiraishi S, Tomoda A, Miike T
  • Journal Title: Bulletin of the IACFS/ME 17(3) Pages: 107-114
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Description of environmental determinants of quality of life in children with intellectual disability in Japan using the delphi technique (2009)
  • Author(s): Kalay L, Fujimori S, Suzuki H, Minamoto K, Ueda K, Wei CN, Tomoda A, Harada K, Ueda A
  • Journal Title: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 15(2) Pages: 73-83
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Reduced prefrontal cortical gray matter volume in young adults exposed to harsh corporal punishment (2009)
  • Author(s): Tomoda A, Suzuki H, Rabi K, Sheu Y, Polcari A, Teicher MH
  • Journal Title: NeuroImage 47(2) Pages: 66-71
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Metabolic dysfunction and circadian rhythm abnormalities in adolescents with sleep disturbance (2009)
  • Author(s): Tomoda A, Kawatani J, Joudoi, T, Hamada A, Miike T
  • Journal Title: NeuroImage 47(2) Pages: 21-26
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Differences between physical abuse and corporal punishment : Japanese qualitative study (2009)
  • Author(s): Suzuki H, Tomoda A
  • Organizer: American Psychological Association meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Toronto, Ontario Canada
  • Year and Date: 20090806-20090809
• [Presentation] Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(AD/HD)and Chronic Fatigue in Childhood (2009)
  • Author(s): Tomoda A, Kawatani J, Jodoi T, Mizuno K, Miike T, Watanabe Y
  • Organizer: The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 56th annual meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Honolulu, USA
  • Year and Date: 2009-10-30
• [Presentation] Neurobiological behavior consequences of early stress and childhood maltreatment (2009)
  • Author(s): Tomoda A
  • Organizer: International Brain Mapping & Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society 2009 annual meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Boston, USA
  • Year and Date: 2009-08-26
• [Book] Neurobiology of early trauma and childhood adversity. In : The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease by Vermetten E, Lanius R, Pain C(Eds.) (2010)
  • Author(s): Teicher MH, Rabi K, Sheu Y, Bernadini S, Andersen SL, Anderson CM, Choi J, Tomoda A
  • Total Pages: 320
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• [Book] Ontogenetic perspectives on the neurobiological basis of psychopathology following abuse and neglect. In : Formative Experiences : The Interaction of Caregiving, Culture, and Developmental Psychobiolog by Carol M. Worthman CM, Plotsky P, Schechter DS, Cummings C(Eds.) (2010)
  • Author(s): Bernadini S, Teicher MH, Rabi K, Sheu Y, Andersen SL, Anderson CM, Choi J, Tomoda A.
  • Total Pages: 624
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/seeds/seeds/63000042/index.html