| Childhood Abuse Linked to Depression Nature was | | | | carefully measured in each subject while she |
| designed for nurture. | | | | completed a somewhat stressful task. Results |
| Many studies over the years have documented the | | | | showed that the levels of these particular hormones |
| effects that many early childhood experiences can | | | | were pronounced in women who had a history of |
| have on both the physical and chemical makeup of | | | | abuse as children and who were also experiencing |
| our brains. It is agreed that in particular, childhood | | | | depression at the time. Surprisingly, the womens |
| abuse and/or neglect has the ability to permanently | | | | ACTH response indicators were actually more than |
| alter an individual's physiology. The physiological | | | | six times those of the healthy women. |
| changes that occur may lead to a greater risk of the | | | | Interestingly, there is a critical period of time in a |
| person suffering from depression or anxiety later into | | | | child's first three years of life during which most of |
| their adult life. | | | | these pathways are formed. If a child is subjected to |
| Depression In Women There has been a major study | | | | primarily negative stimulation early in life, pathways |
| conducted of depressed women in the US and | | | | that form to enable lasting relationships and for |
| results have shown that the women who were | | | | responding to positive experiences may not develop |
| abused during their childhood, now have abnormally | | | | well, or may not develop at all. Whilst this may |
| high hormonal responses to stress compared to | | | | certainly be a reaction to help the child survive, it can |
| women who did not experience abuse during | | | | cause permanent difficulties for any individual later in |
| childhood. The results of the study suggests that | | | | life. |
| childhood abuse is linked with persistent hyperactivity | | | | Having the knowledge that nature and nurture are |
| of the hormonal system in women which is | | | | two crucial aspects to a person's health and wellbeing |
| associated with the stress response, which may in | | | | will no doubt prove to be a very useful tool in the |
| turn lead to greater vulnerability to psychiatric | | | | research and treatment of psychiatric illness in the |
| disorders during adulthood. | | | | future, and may lead to even more effective |
| Cortisol and ACTH which are two hormones that play | | | | treatments being developed. Click here for more info |
| a critical role in a person's response to stress, were | | | | on Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Depression. |