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Spiel S, Szymanski K, Bornstein R. Intergenerational Trauma, Dependency, and Detachment. J Nerv Ment Dis 2023; 211:679-685. [PMID: 37399584 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The literature on intergenerational transmission of trauma is predominantly focused on the mental health functioning of children and grandchildren of trauma survivors. Research shows that having a traumatized parent is related to increased psychopathology and dysfunctional attachment patterns in the next generation, but little is known about the effects of parental trauma on other aspects of interpersonal relating. The current study addresses this gap. Participants were young adult students from an urban college; individual and parental trauma histories, and indices of unhealthy dependency, dysfunctional detachment, and healthy dependency, were obtained. Results indicated that a wide range of parental traumas were positively correlated with dysfunctional detachment, but not related to destructive overdependence or healthy dependency. These results suggest that a wide range of parental traumas have a negative impact on the next generation's interpersonal dependency by fostering a tendency to distance themselves from close relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shira Spiel
- Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
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2
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Swales DA, Davis EP, Mahrer NE, Guardino CM, Shalowitz MU, Ramey SL, Schetter CD. Preconception maternal posttraumatic stress and child negative affectivity: Prospectively evaluating the intergenerational impact of trauma. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:619-629. [PMID: 35074031 PMCID: PMC9309186 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The developmental origins of psychopathology begin before birth and perhaps even prior to conception. Understanding the intergenerational transmission of psychopathological risk is critical to identify sensitive windows for prevention and early intervention. Prior research demonstrates that maternal trauma history, typically assessed retrospectively, has adverse consequences for child socioemotional development. However, very few prospective studies of preconception trauma exist, and the role of preconception symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains unknown. The current study prospectively evaluates whether maternal preconception PTSD symptoms predict early childhood negative affectivity, a key dimension of temperament and predictor of later psychopathology. One hundred and eighteen women were recruited following a birth and prior to conception of the study child and were followed until the study child was 3-5 years old. Higher maternal PTSD symptoms prior to conception predicted greater child negative affectivity, adjusting for concurrent maternal depressive symptoms and sociodemographic covariates. In exploratory analyses, we found that neither maternal prenatal nor postpartum depressive symptoms or perceived stress mediated this association. These findings add to a limited prospective literature, highlighting the importance of assessing the mental health of women prior to conception and providing interventions that can disrupt the intergenerational sequelae of trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | | | | | - Madeleine U. Shalowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL
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3
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Hava D, Solomon Z, Dekel R. Predicting Depression Among Spouses of Ex-POWs: The Contribution of Exposure to Violence, Trauma, and Stress Through the Life Cycle. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:4832-4851. [PMID: 36062821 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221119523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The current longitudinal study focused on predicting depression among spouses of former Israeli war veterans (combat veterans or ex-prisoners of war [ex-POWs]). The research examined the direct and moderating role of secondary trauma related to their husbands' war-related experiences, stress related to being exposed to intimate partner violence in their relationship, being a second-generation Holocaust (SGH) survivor, and the effects of additional stressful life events (SLEs) since the end of the war. Wives of ex-POWs and combat veterans (N = 129) participated in two time measurements. Spouses of ex-POWs were found to be at higher risk of depression and psychological violence. Psychological violence was a risk factor for depression. The three-way interaction among psychological violence, being a SGH survivor, and experiencing SLEs was significant. In addition, experiencing earlier stressful events had a protective effect. The findings suggest that the association between early exposure and additive exposure through life is a complex iteration of factors and does not necessarily follow the vulnerability perspective.
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Mbiydzenyuy NE, Hemmings SMJ, Qulu L. Prenatal maternal stress and offspring aggressive behavior: Intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:977416. [PMID: 36212196 PMCID: PMC9539686 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.977416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though studies have shown that prenatal maternal stress is associated with increased reactivity of the HPA axis, the association between prenatal maternal stress and fetal glucocorticoid exposure is complex and most likely dependent on unidentified and poorly understood variables including nature and timing of prenatal insults. The precise mechanisms in which prenatal maternal stress influence neuroendocrine signaling between the maternal-placental-fetal interface are still unclear. The aim of this review article is to bring comprehensive basic concepts about prenatal maternal stress and mechanisms of transmission of maternal stress to the fetus. This review covers recent studies showing associations between maternal stress and alterations in offspring aggressive behavior, as well as the possible pathways for the “transmission” of maternal stress to the fetus: (1) maternal-fetal HPA axis dysregulation; (2) intrauterine environment disruption due to variations in uterine artery flow; (3) epigenetic modifications of genes implicated in aggressive behavior. Here, we present evidence for the phenomenon of intergenerational and transgenerational transmission, to better understands the mechanism(s) of transmission from parent to offspring. We discuss studies showing associations between maternal stress and alterations in offspring taking note of neuroendocrine, brain architecture and epigenetic changes that may suggest risk for aggressive behavior. We highlight animal and human studies that focus on intergenerational transmission following exposure to stress from a biological mechanistic point of view, and maternal stress-induced epigenetic modifications that have potential to impact on aggressive behavior in later generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy
- Department of Basic Science, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Ngala Elvis Mbiydzenyuy,
| | - Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lihle Qulu
- Division of Medical Physiology, Biomedical Science Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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5
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Que nous apprenent les enfants des survivants de la shoah sur la transmission transgenerationnelle du traumatisme? EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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6
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Taki F, Lopez K, Zupan B, Bergin P, Docampo MD, Alves-Bezerra M, Toth JG, Chen Q, Argyropoulos KV, Barboza L, Pickup E, Fancher N, Hiller A, Gross S, Cohen DE, van den Brink MRM, Toth M. Maternal Programming of Social Dominance via Milk Cytokines. iScience 2020; 23:101357. [PMID: 32712464 PMCID: PMC7390789 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Regular physical activity improves physical and mental health. Here we found that the effect of physical activity extends to the next generation. Voluntary wheel running of dams, from postpartum day 2 to weaning, increased the social dominance and reproductive success, but not the physical/metabolic health, of their otherwise sedentary offspring. The individual's own physical activity did not improve dominance status. Maternal exercise did not disrupt maternal care or the maternal and offspring microbiota. Rather, the development of dominance behavior in the offspring of running mothers could be explained by the reduction of LIF, CXCL1, and CXCL2 cytokines in breast milk. These data reveal a cytokine-mediated lactocrine pathway that responds to the mother's postpartum physical activity and programs offspring social dominance. As dominance behaviors are highly relevant to the individual's survival and reproduction, lactocrine programming could be an evolutionary mechanism by which a mother promotes the social rank of her offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faten Taki
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Katherine Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Bojana Zupan
- Psychological Science Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie 124 Raymond Avenue, New York, NY 12604, USA
| | - Paul Bergin
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Melissa D Docampo
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michele Alves-Bezerra
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Judit Gal Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qiuying Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kimon V Argyropoulos
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Luendreo Barboza
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Emily Pickup
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nicholas Fancher
- Psychological Science Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie 124 Raymond Avenue, New York, NY 12604, USA
| | - Abbi Hiller
- Psychological Science Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie 124 Raymond Avenue, New York, NY 12604, USA
| | - Steven Gross
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David E Cohen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Marcel R M van den Brink
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Miklos Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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7
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Bendjo S, Karnilowicz W, Gill PR. “You cannot forgive and you cannot forget”: The Serbian refugee settlement experience in Australia. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/casp.2406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Slobodan Bendjo
- Institute for Health and SportVictoria University Melbourne Australia
| | - Wally Karnilowicz
- Institute for Health and SportVictoria University Melbourne Australia
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8
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Raber J, Arzy S, Bertolus JB, Depue B, Haas HE, Hofmann SG, Kangas M, Kensinger E, Lowry CA, Marusak HA, Minnier J, Mouly AM, Mühlberger A, Norrholm SD, Peltonen K, Pinna G, Rabinak C, Shiban Y, Soreq H, van der Kooij MA, Lowe L, Weingast LT, Yamashita P, Boutros SW. Current understanding of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models and the value of a linguistic approach for analyzing fear learning and memory in humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 105:136-177. [PMID: 30970272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fear is an emotion that serves as a driving factor in how organisms move through the world. In this review, we discuss the current understandings of the subjective experience of fear and the related biological processes involved in fear learning and memory. We first provide an overview of fear learning and memory in humans and animal models, encompassing the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms, the influence of genetic and environmental factors, and how fear learning paradigms have contributed to treatments for fear-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Current treatments as well as novel strategies, such as targeting the perisynaptic environment and use of virtual reality, are addressed. We review research on the subjective experience of fear and the role of autobiographical memory in fear-related disorders. We also discuss the gaps in our understanding of fear learning and memory, and the degree of consensus in the field. Lastly, the development of linguistic tools for assessments and treatment of fear learning and memory disorders is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Departments of Neurology and Radiation Medicine, and Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Shahar Arzy
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | - Brendan Depue
- Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Haley E Haas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Kangas
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Minnier
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Mouly
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS-UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Université Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Andreas Mühlberger
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Seth Davin Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kirsi Peltonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences/Psychology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christine Rabinak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Youssef Shiban
- Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy), University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; PFH - Private University of Applied Sciences, Department of Psychology (Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Research), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hermona Soreq
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science and The Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Michael A van der Kooij
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitatsmedizin der Johannes Guttenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Leah T Weingast
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paula Yamashita
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sydney Weber Boutros
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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9
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Dashorst P, Mooren TM, Kleber RJ, de Jong PJ, Huntjens RJC. Intergenerational consequences of the Holocaust on offspring mental health: a systematic review of associated factors and mechanisms. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2019; 10:1654065. [PMID: 31497262 PMCID: PMC6720013 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2019.1654065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to war and violence has major consequences for society at large, detrimental impact on people's individual lives, and may also have intergenerational consequences. To gain more insight into these intergenerational consequences, research addressing the impact of the Holocaust on offspring is an important source of information. The aim of the current study was to systematically review the mechanisms of intergenerational consequences by summarizing characteristics in Holocaust survivors and their offspring suggested to impact the offspring's mental health. We focused on: 1) parental mental health problems, 2) (perceived) parenting and attachment quality, 3) family structure, especially parental Holocaust history, 4) additional stress and life events, and 5) psychophysiological processes of transmission. We identified 23 eligible studies published between 2000 and 2018. Only Holocaust survivor studies met the inclusion criteria. Various parent and child characteristics and their interaction were found to contribute to the development of psychological symptoms and biological and epigenetic variations. Parental mental health problems, perceived parenting, attachment quality, and parental gender appeared to be influential for the mental well-being of their offspring. In addition, having two survivor parents resulted in higher mental health problems compared to having one survivor parent. Also, there was evidence suggesting that Holocaust survivor offspring show a heightened vulnerability for stress, although this was only evident in the face of actual danger. Finally, the results also indicate intergenerational effects on offspring cortisol levels. Clinical and treatment implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trudy M Mooren
- Stichting Centrum'45/partner in Arq, Diemen, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rolf J Kleber
- Stichting Centrum'45/partner in Arq, Diemen, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J de Jong
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rafaele J C Huntjens
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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10
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Perez RM, Arnold-Berkovits I. A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Latino Immigrant’s Ambiguous Loss of Homeland. HISPANIC JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/0739986318761058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the complex psychological processes that underlie post-migration experiences can assist those settling into a new land. We propose a conceptual framework that examines two distinct emotional experiences—ambiguous loss of homeland (ALH) and relative satisfaction (RS) between the country of origin (CO) and the host country. This framework emerges from interviews with 55 Spanish-speaking immigrants to the United States and results in four quadrants: (1) “pulled there” (feels loss of homeland strongly and prefers CO to the United States); (2) “neither here nor there” (does not feel loss of homeland strongly, however, prefers CO to the United States); (3) “mostly here” (does not feel loss of homeland strongly and prefers the United States); and (4) “here but pulled there” (feels loss of homeland strongly, however, prefers the United States). The conceptual framework of ALH and RS contributes to the immigration literature and is not exclusive to Latinos, but to the growing global immigrant and refugee population.
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Abstract
Many studies have examined the trauma bereaved parents experience. The current study focuses on the role that the Holocaust's memory plays in the bereavement experience of parents who have lost a child in a terrorist attack in Israel. Forty bereaved parents were interviewed, using semistructured in-depth interviews. Bereaved parents related to the Holocaust memory as a meaningful experience in their private bereavement. The parents expressed dialectic feelings concerning their loss, personal victimization on the one hand and personal strength, and growth on the other hand. It seems that memory reconstruction of the Holocaust can be used as a coping resource.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yael Saka
- b Department of Criminology , Ashkelon Academic College , Ashkelon , Israel
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12
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Miller ED. Making Sense of the Brutality of the Holocaust: Critical Themes and New Perspectives. THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 151:88-106. [DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2016.1217191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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13
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Bowers ME, Yehuda R. Intergenerational Transmission of Stress in Humans. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41:232-44. [PMID: 26279078 PMCID: PMC4677138 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The hypothesis that offspring are affected by parental trauma or stress exposure, first noted anecdotally, is now supported empirically by data from Holocaust survivor offspring cohorts and other populations. These findings have been extended to less extreme forms of stress, where differential physical, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes are observed in affected offspring. Parental stress-mediated effects in offspring could be explained by genetics or social learning theory. Alternatively, biological variations stemming from stress exposure in parents could more directly have an impact on offspring, a concept we refer to here as 'intergenerational transmission', via changes to gametes and the gestational uterine environment. We further extend this definition to include the transmission of stress to offspring via early postnatal care, as animal studies demonstrate the importance of early maternal care of pups in affecting offsprings' long-term behavioral changes. Here, we review clinical observations in offspring, noting that offspring of stress- or trauma-exposed parents may be at greater risk for physical, behavioral, and cognitive problems, as well as psychopathology. Furthermore, we review findings concerning offspring biological correlates of parental stress, in particular, offspring neuroendocrine, epigenetic, and neuroanatomical changes, in an attempt to determine the extent of parental stress effects. Although understanding the etiology of effects in offspring is currently impeded by methodological constraints, and limitations in our knowledge, we summarize current information and conclude by presenting hypotheses that have been prompted by recent studies in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallory E Bowers
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, NY, USA,Mental Health Care Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount, NY, NY, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 526 OOMH PTSD 116/A, JJP VAMC, 130 W Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA, Tel: +718 741 4000, ext. 6964, Fax: +718 741 4703, E-mail:
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Toth M. Mechanisms of non-genetic inheritance and psychiatric disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:129-40. [PMID: 24889369 PMCID: PMC4262890 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Revised: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Inheritance is typically associated with the Mendelian transmission of information from parents to offspring by alleles (DNA sequence). However, empirical data clearly suggest that traits can be acquired from ancestors by mechanisms that do not involve genetic alleles, referred to as non-genetic inheritance. Information that is non-genetically transmitted across generations includes parental experience and exposure to certain environments, but also parental mutations and polymorphisms, because they can change the parental 'intrinsic' environment. Non-genetic inheritance is not limited to the first generation of the progeny, but can involve the grandchildren and even further generations. Non-genetic inheritance has been observed for multiple traits including overall development, cardiovascular risk and metabolic symptoms, but this review will focus on the inheritance of behavioral abnormalities pertinent to psychiatric disorders. Multigenerational non-genetic inheritance is often interpreted as the transmission of epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation and chromatin modifications, via the gametes (transgenerational epigenetic inheritance). However, information can be carried across generations by a large number of bioactive substances, including hormones, cytokines, and even microorganisms, without the involvement of the gametes. We reason that this broader definition of non-genetic inheritance is more appropriate, especially in the context of psychiatric disorders, because of the well-recognized role of parental and early life environmental factors in later life psychopathology. Here we discuss the various forms of non-genetic inheritance in humans and animals, as well as rodent models of psychiatric conditions to illustrate possible mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklos Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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Devakumar D, Birch M, Osrin D, Sondorp E, Wells JCK. The intergenerational effects of war on the health of children. BMC Med 2014; 12:57. [PMID: 24694212 PMCID: PMC3997818 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-12-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The short- and medium-term effects of conflict on population health are reasonably well documented. Less considered are its consequences across generations and potential harms to the health of children yet to be born. DISCUSSION Looking first at the nature and effects of exposures during conflict, and then at the potential routes through which harm may propagate within families, we consider the intergenerational effects of four features of conflict: violence, challenges to mental health, infection and malnutrition. Conflict-driven harms are transmitted through a complex permissive environment that includes biological, cultural and economic factors, and feedback loops between sources of harm and weaknesses in individual and societal resilience to them. We discuss the multiplicative effects of ongoing conflict when hostilities are prolonged. SUMMARY We summarize many instances in which the effects of war can propagate across generations. We hope that the evidence laid out in the article will stimulate research and--more importantly--contribute to the discussion of the costs of war; particularly in the longer-term in post-conflict situations in which interventions need to be sustained and adapted over many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delan Devakumar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Jonathan CK Wells
- Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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Gill JM, Saligan L, Lee H, Rotolo S, Szanton S. Women in recovery from PTSD have similar inflammation and quality of life as non-traumatized controls. J Psychosom Res 2013; 74:301-6. [PMID: 23497831 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Revised: 10/03/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with greater concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers as well as substantial medical burden; however, it is not clear if these morbidity risks change following recovery from PTSD. In this study we compare women who have recovered from PTSD, to those with current PTSD, and healthy controls on their perceived health and inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers. METHODS We studied 3 groups of women: those with current PTSD, those who reported recovery from PTSD, and healthy non-traumatized controls, which were determined using standard diagnostic instruments. We obtained a morning blood sample and examined concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers of: interleukin 6 (IL-6) and c-reactive protein (CRP), and lipid concentrations. Lastly, we evaluated health related quality of life (HRQOL). RESULTS Women who had recovered from PTSD had a similar HRQOL and inflammatory biomarkers as non-traumatized controls. Their concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers were lower than women with current PTSD, and similar to non-traumatized controls. CONCLUSION Health perception as well as biological indicators of health significantly differ in women in recovery from PTSD, compared to those who remain symptomatic. These findings suggest that the psychological recovery is associated with normal levels of inflammatory biomarkers and HRQOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Gill
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Die mehrgenerationale Weitergabe von Traumatisierungen – empirische und familiendynamische Perspektiven. Prax Kinderpsychol Kinderpsychiatr 2012; 61:564-83. [DOI: 10.13109/prkk.2012.61.8.564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Gill JM, Szanton S. Inflammation and traumatic stress: the society to cells resiliency model to support integrative interventions. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2011; 17:404-16. [PMID: 22142977 DOI: 10.1177/1078390311418652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder that develops following a traumatic event and has substantial health implications, including high rates of health morbidity and mortality, as well as significant health-related costs. Medical risks that are associated with PTSD often have an underlying inflammatory pathology, suggesting that inflammation contributes to these health declines. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN In this critical literature review, the authors examine the medical risks associated with PTSD and the inflammatory mechanisms that likely underlie these risks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The authors offer a review of their "Cells to Society Resiliency Model" to motivate the development of integrative interventions that include factors of society, community, family, individual, physiological, and cellular factors to thereby reduce the health risks associated with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Gill
- National Institutes of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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