Childhood Abuse, Brain Development and Psychopathology

Childhood maltreatment is the most important preventable risk factor for psychiatric disorders. This keynote will explore the effects of different types of maltreatment on brain structure, function, and connectivity, and highlight the importance of sensitive periods. A major emphasis will be on the relationship between brain changes and psychopathology. The ‘ecophenotype’ hypothesis that maltreated and non-maltreated individuals with the same DSM diagnosis are clinically, genetically, and neurobiologically distinct will be explored, as well as the neurobiological differences between susceptible and resilient individuals. The keynote will close with a presentation on therapeutic implications and strategies that follow from these findings.