Child maltreatment and mental disorders – the role of epigenetics

Queirós, Marta; Caseiro, João

Publication

Child maltreatment and mental disorders – the role of epigenetics

2018-09-30Text

datacite.subject.fos	Ciências Médicas
dc.contributor.author	Queirós, Marta
dc.contributor.author	Caseiro, João
dc.date.accessioned	2025-11-14T15:21:31Z
dc.date.available	2025-11-14T15:21:31Z
dc.date.issued	2018-09-30
dc.description.abstract	Introduction: Child maltreatment is associated with high risk for various physical and mental disorders and is associated with over 30% of adult psychopathology. Child maltreatment also relates with poor clinical outcomes, such as chronic disease, increased hospitalization, comorbidity and reduced response to treatment. Early adverse experiences can cause epigenetic changes, altering gene expression without changing DNA sequence. Epigenetic alterations in genes implicated in stress response and neurodevelopment might explain to some extent the impact of child maltreatment in mental health. Objectives: Review available literature concerning the impact of child maltreatment in human epigenome, focusing on mental health related outcomes. Development: DNA methylation induced by child maltreatment changes specific genes, in peripheral and brain tissues, producing major consequences in stress regulation, neural plasticity, and neurodevelopment. Methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene is one of the most studied epigenetic alterations that have been related to childhood maltreatment and seems to be responsible for an increased vulnerability to develop psychopathology. Epigenetic changes may not be permanent, and there are some interventions that seem to reduce DNA methylation. Therefore, in the future, DNA methylation may be used, not only in the diagnosis and prediction of treatment response, but also for therapeutic innovation. Conclusions: Epigenetic changes can potentially explain pathophysiological changes related to child maltreatment exposure, may serve as biomarkers in stress-related disorders and provide targets for the development of new therapeutic and preventive interventions for individuals that were exposed to child abuse.	por
dc.identifier.citation	Nascer e Crescer – Birth and Growth Medical Journal 2018;27(3):166-75. doi:10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v27.i3.13431
dc.identifier.doi	10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v27.i3.13431
dc.identifier.issn	2183-9417
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.16/3796
dc.language.iso	eng
dc.peerreviewed	yes
dc.publisher	Centro Hospitalar do Porto
dc.relation.hasversion	https://revistas.rcaap.pt/bgmj/article/view/13431
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
dc.subject	Child abuse
dc.subject	domestic violence
dc.subject	epigenesis
dc.subject	genetic
dc.subject	mental disorders
dc.title	Child maltreatment and mental disorders – the role of epigenetics	eng
dc.type	text
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.citation.endPage	175
oaire.citation.issue	3
oaire.citation.startPage	166
oaire.citation.title	Nascer e Crescer – Birth and Growth Medical Journal
oaire.citation.volume	27
oaire.version	http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85