The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-lasting effect on both physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of ACEs and experienced stress on depression and the role of biological disturbances in this relationship in a student population. Potential partic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/22/7093 |
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| author | Joanna Rog Michał Karakuła Zuzanna Rząd Aleksandra Fitowska Agnieszka Brzezińska Hanna Karakula-Juchnowicz |
| author_facet | Joanna Rog Michał Karakuła Zuzanna Rząd Aleksandra Fitowska Agnieszka Brzezińska Hanna Karakula-Juchnowicz |
| author_sort | Joanna Rog |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-lasting effect on both physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of ACEs and experienced stress on depression and the role of biological disturbances in this relationship in a student population. Potential participants filled out a screening questionnaire; 60 of 126 students met the inclusion criteria and were tested for the severity of stress and depressive symptoms, ACEs, dietary habits, and serum concentrations of biological markers. Depressive symptoms were related to a younger age (<i>p</i> = 0.012), a higher severity of stress (<i>p</i> = 0.001), ACEs (<i>p</i> = 0.007), and lower triglyceride (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and cortisol concentrations (<i>p</i> = 0.01). An inverse relationship between the triglyceride concentration and emotional abuse (R = −0.38) and emotional neglect (R = −0.33) was found. Occludin was positively associated with physical abuse (R = 0.31). Cortisol was inversely associated with emotional abuse (R = −0.35). Emotional neglect was associated with lipopolysaccharide binding protein (R = 0.38) and insulin levels (R = −0.31). The most promising multi-panel of biomarkers for recognizing mood symptoms included triglycerides, tight junction protein 1, and cortisol (cut-offs of ≤ 95.5 mg/dL, 0.72 ng/mL, and 134.63 ng/mL, respectively). This study confirmed the association between ACEs and depressive symptoms and the importance of psychological stress in developing mood disorders. ACEs could affect biological dysregulation. Some of the biological markers could be helpful in early detection of depression. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:42:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-316ba861b8ce4183ae1ba7c3c7d6159a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:42:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-316ba861b8ce4183ae1ba7c3c7d6159a2023-11-24T14:49:26ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-11-011222709310.3390/jcm12227093The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student StudyJoanna Rog0Michał Karakuła1Zuzanna Rząd2Aleksandra Fitowska3Agnieszka Brzezińska4Hanna Karakula-Juchnowicz5Laboratory of Human Metabolism Research, Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), 02-787 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of General and Coordination Chemistry and Crystallography, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 20-950 Lublin, Poland1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland1st Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, PolandAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-lasting effect on both physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of ACEs and experienced stress on depression and the role of biological disturbances in this relationship in a student population. Potential participants filled out a screening questionnaire; 60 of 126 students met the inclusion criteria and were tested for the severity of stress and depressive symptoms, ACEs, dietary habits, and serum concentrations of biological markers. Depressive symptoms were related to a younger age (<i>p</i> = 0.012), a higher severity of stress (<i>p</i> = 0.001), ACEs (<i>p</i> = 0.007), and lower triglyceride (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and cortisol concentrations (<i>p</i> = 0.01). An inverse relationship between the triglyceride concentration and emotional abuse (R = −0.38) and emotional neglect (R = −0.33) was found. Occludin was positively associated with physical abuse (R = 0.31). Cortisol was inversely associated with emotional abuse (R = −0.35). Emotional neglect was associated with lipopolysaccharide binding protein (R = 0.38) and insulin levels (R = −0.31). The most promising multi-panel of biomarkers for recognizing mood symptoms included triglycerides, tight junction protein 1, and cortisol (cut-offs of ≤ 95.5 mg/dL, 0.72 ng/mL, and 134.63 ng/mL, respectively). This study confirmed the association between ACEs and depressive symptoms and the importance of psychological stress in developing mood disorders. ACEs could affect biological dysregulation. Some of the biological markers could be helpful in early detection of depression.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/22/7093traumadepressionadverse childhood experiencepsychological stressmajor depressive disordersmental health |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Rog Michał Karakuła Zuzanna Rząd Aleksandra Fitowska Agnieszka Brzezińska Hanna Karakula-Juchnowicz The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study Journal of Clinical Medicine trauma depression adverse childhood experience psychological stress major depressive disorders mental health |
| title | The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study |
| title_full | The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study |
| title_fullStr | The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study |
| title_short | The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study |
| title_sort | importance of adverse childhood experiences in depressive symptoms and their biological consequences in healthy adults results of a polish university student study |
| topic | trauma depression adverse childhood experience psychological stress major depressive disorders mental health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/22/7093 |
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