A new study reports children who are subjected violence early in life experience faster biological aging, including earlier onset of puberty and epigenetic aging, than peers who are not abused. Additionally, children exposed to other early life adversities, such as poverty and food insecurity, show delayed signs of pubertal development. Read More
According to researchers, the severity of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and PTSD in childhood survivors of abuse may depend upon the time the abuse first took place, how long it lasted and the severity of the abuse. Sexual abuse of females also has a more detrimental effect on mental health than in males, the study reports. Read More
Contrary to popular belief, researchers report most people do not interfere when they witness someone abusing a stranger. Read More
A new paper reviews some of the possible psychological and neurological disorders experienced by characters in Alice in Wonderland. Read More
McGill researchers report those who suffer from traumatic experiences during childhood, like severe abuse, show significant abnormalities in the structure and cell function in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area of the brain associated with emotion and mood regulation. Researchers believe these changes may contribute to depressive disorders and suicidal ideations, often considered a long term effect of trauma suffered during early life. Read More
A new study reports men who buy sex have less empathy for female prostitutes than those who don't. Additionally, those who use prostitutes share some key characteristics with men at risk for committing sexually violent acts. Read More
According to a new study, children who have been maltreated have a surprising ability to regulate their emotions. Read More
Researchers report both negative and positive experiences influence how genetic factors influence the brain and behavior. Read More