Neural Correlates of Disorganized Attachment and a General Psychopathology Factor: Differentiating Constructs with Neuroimaging

• In Event: 2-025 - Attachment and Caregiving Dysregulation: Neural Correlates, Sequelae, and an Effective Intervention

Integrative Statement

Loss and abuse in childhood are adverse childhood events that may have lifelong somatic, psychiatric and psychosocial consequences. From an attachment theory perspective loss and abuse increase the likelihood of unresolved-disorganized attachment (Ud): the child may show signs of current mental impact from loss of loved ones or abuse, or may apply contradictory approach-avoidance strategies to relationships with attachment figures (Hesse, 2016). This unresolved mental representation may negatively impact upon the transition to adult functioning and increases vulnerability to a range of psychiatric disorders (Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van Ijzendoorn, 2009). It is, however, unknown how Ud relates to the abnormalities is brain structure and function that are commonly found in patients with psychopathology.
In the current study, we examined structural and functional brain abnormalities related to Ud in a combined (non-)clinical sample of adolescents. In addition, we examined whether neural correlates of Ud can be differentiated from neural features related to a dimensional measure of psychopathology: A general psychopathology factor (GPF; also named ‘P factor’ (Caspi et al., 2014)), which represents a lesser-to-greater severity of psychopathology.
Unique neural correlates of Ud and GPF were examined in adolescents (N=74, 85.1% female, M age = 15.42 years) with childhood sexual abuse-related posttraumatic stress disorder (N=21), anxiety and depressive disorders (N=28), and without psychopathology (N=25). Ud was measured using the Adult Attachment Interview (Hesse, 2016). White matter integrity (WMI), brain structure, and resting-state functional connectivity data were collected using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance imaging. We controlled for puberty stage, gender, age, and IQ in all analyses.
DTI analyses showed that, while controlling for GPF, Ud was associated with reduced WMI in the splenium of the corpus callosum. In contrast, GPF was associated with reduced WMI in the genu and body of the corpus callosum, while controlling for Ud (see Figure 1). Volumetric analyses showed that, while controlling for GPF, there was a significant effect of Ud on left hippocampal volume (F(6,67) =3.37, p =0.01, R2=.23). Participants with Ud showed a smaller left hippocampal volume (Ud: M=3574.33, SD=510.99, N=16, non-Ud: M=3921.81, SD=344.29, N=58) see Figure 2). In addition, we found that Ud was associated with greater functional connectivity between the left hippocampus and the middle temporal gyrus and the lateral occipital cortex.
This is the first study linking adolescent attachment status to brain structure and function in clinical as well as non-clinical adolescents. Our findings show that Ud and psychopathology differentially relate to brain structure and functioning. The association of Ud with specific brain structure and functioning across psychopathological classifications shows promise for dimensional complements to the dominant classificatory approach in clinical research and practice. Moreover, these findings point to Ud as a transdiagnostic risk factor in the development of psychopathology.

Authors

• Madelon Riem, Tilburg University
  Presenting Author

• Marie-Jose van Hoof, Curium Leiden University Medical Center
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy Garrett, University of Texas Health Science Center
  Non-Presenting Author

• Serge Rombouts, Leiden University Medical Center
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nic van der Wee, Leiden University Medical Center
  Non-Presenting Author

• Marinus H van IJzendoorn, Erasmus University Rotterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Robert Vermeiren, Curium - Leiden University Medical Centetr
  Non-Presenting Author