Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Exp Neurol. 2012 Jan;233(1):102-11. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.10.032. Epub 2011 Nov 7.
Early life stress, such as childhood abuse, neglect and loss, is a well established major risk factor for developing depressive disorders later in life. We here summarize and discuss current developments in human research regarding the link between early life stress and depression. Specifically, we review the evidence for the existence of sensitive periods for the adverse effects of early life stress in humans. We further review the current state of knowledge regarding gene×environment (G×E) interactions in the effects of early life stress. While multiple genes operate in multiple environments to induce risk for depression after early life stress, these same genes also seem to enhance the beneficial effects of a positive early environment. Also, we discuss the epigenetic mechanisms that might underlie these G×E interactions. Finally, we discuss the potential importance of identifying sensitive time periods of opportunity, as well as G×E interactions and epigenetic mechanisms, for early interventions that might prevent or reverse the detrimental outcomes of early life stress and its transmission across generations.
早期生活压力，如儿童期虐待、忽视和丧失，是导致以后生活中出现抑郁障碍的一个明确的主要危险因素。我们在这里总结和讨论了当前人类研究中关于早期生活压力与抑郁之间关系的新进展。具体而言，我们回顾了早期生活压力对人类产生不良影响的敏感时期存在的证据。我们进一步回顾了关于早期生活压力影响中基因与环境（G×E）相互作用的当前知识状况。虽然多个基因在多个环境中作用，导致早期生活压力后出现抑郁风险，但这些相同的基因似乎也增强了积极的早期环境的有益效果。此外，我们还讨论了这些 G×E 相互作用的潜在基础的表观遗传机制。最后，我们讨论了确定机会敏感时期、G×E 相互作用和表观遗传机制的重要性，以便进行早期干预，从而预防或逆转早期生活压力及其跨代传递的不良后果。
