A new deep learning algorithm may help children affected by abuse to disclose information about their experiences.
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.
Researchers identify distinctive methylation differences in 12 regions of the male genome between those who had faced abuse as children and those who did not. Scientists say the discovery of this biomarker could be used as a tool for criminal investigations into child abuse.
Researchers explore how early extreme childhood stress can have a negative impact on social learning and mental health later in life.
For male victims of childhood mistreatment, specific medications can prevent or reduce epigentic marks and improve behavior, a new study reports. However, this does not appear to be the case for females. Researchers note that the study underlies the importance of recognizing sex differences in research and treatments.
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.
Researchers have developed a new blood test that could help to identify infants who may be experiencing bleeding in the brain as a result of abusive head trauma.
