Does Developmental Timing Matter for Psychopathology Risk? A Critical Review of the Sensitive Period Hypothesis

• In Event: 1-096 - Sensitive Periods in Development Shaping Risk for Psychopathology Across the Life Course

Integrative Statement

Introduction: Within the developmental literature, the notion of "sensitive periods" is often evoked to explain why adverse experiences, including child maltreatment, appear to have such profound effects on later mental health. Interestingly, however, despite widespread belief in the potency of early experience, there is currently little scientific consensus around when sensitive periods for the development of psychopathology might emerge following exposure to child maltreatment – or whether they exist at all.

Methods and Results: In this talk, we provide an overview and synthesis of existing evidence from human and animal studies suggesting that the effects of child maltreatment may depend on developmental timing. First, to contextualize this work, we begin by briefly reviewing the history of sensitive period research and defining the hallmark features of sensitive periods. Second, we present results from a critical review of the literature, focusing on four main outcomes implicated in the developmental cascade from maltreatment exposure to poor mental health: (1) primary mediators of the stress response (e.g., cortisol, epinephrine), (2) secondary cellular effects (e.g., DNA methylation, immune function), (3) brain structure and function, and (4) problems with emotion and behavior, including diagnosable psychopathology. Third, we identify and discuss the major conceptual and methodological challenges that complicate interpretation of these studies, including the overreliance on single-wave, retrospective self-reporting; the diverse time-scales used to define sensitive periods; sources of variability in the onset, duration, and magnitude of these periods; and potential confounds. Finally, we conclude with a summary of recommendations for future research.

Authors

• Jonathan D. Schaefer, Duke University
  Presenting Author

• Erin C Dunn, Massachusetts General Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author