Relationship of RAD/DSED symptoms to brain networks and DNA methylation in youth with childhood adversity.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13950
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Hamamura Shoko 福井大学, 学術研究院医学系部門(附属病院部), 特命助教 (20869945)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 児童虐待 / 不適切養育 / 児童養護施設 / 脳イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we examined RAD symptoms-related differences in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between youth (9-18 years) raised in residential care (RC group) following childhood adversity and those without childhood adversity raised in their birth families (Comparison group). The RSFC analyses were performed using a seed-to-voxel approach based on the amygdala and hippocampus included in the limbic system. To assess the RAD (and DSED) symptoms, a semi-structured interview (RAD and DSED assessment [RADA] interview) was administered to the primary caregivers of the youth. As results, regarding the hippocampus seed, there was a main effect of the factor “RAD symptoms” (specifically, low social-emotional responsiveness/emotion dysregulation). Therefore, regardless the factor “Group” (RC and Comparison groups), youth with RAD symptoms relative to those without RAD symptoms exhibited increased RSFC between the left hippocampus seed and right insular cortex.

Free Research Field

精神神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

幼少期の逆境的体験のある子どもに対するRADの過剰診断およびDSEDの過少診断が問題となっている（Allen & Schuengel, 2020）。子どもが幼少期の逆境的体験に曝されることの影響と、それを背景にRAD/DSED症状を呈することを適切に区別し、評価を行う必要がある。適切な治療に繋げるためにも、本研究課題では、幼少期の逆境的体験によって引き起こされる変化とRAD/DSED症状に関するメカニズムについて、生物学的な視点から評価可能とすることを目標としている。