TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Childhood maltreatment and DNA methylation: a systematic review
JO  - Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
A1  - Cecil, Charlotte A. M.
A1  - Zhang, Yuning
A1  - Nolte, Tobias
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - DNA methylation (DNAm) - an epigenetic process that regulates gene expression - may represent a mechanism for the biological embedding of early traumatic experiences, including childhood maltreatment. Here, we conducted the first systematic review of human studies linking childhood maltreatment to DNAm. In total, 72 studies were included in the review (2008-2018). The majority of extant studies (i) were based on retrospective data in adults, (ii) employed a candidate gene approach (iii) focused on global maltreatment, (iv) were based on easily accessible peripheral tissues, typically blood; and (v) were cross-sectional. Two-thirds of studies (n = 48) also examined maltreatment-related outcomes, such as stress reactivity and psychiatric symptoms. While findings generally support an association between childhood maltreatment and altered patterns of DNAm, factors such as the lack of longitudinal data, low comparability across studies as well as potential genetic and 'pre-exposure' environmental confounding currently limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Key challenges are discussed concrete recommendations for future research are provided to move the field forward.<br><br>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0149-7634
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.019
ID  - ref1
ER  -