Childhood Maltreatment Reduces Brain Volume, Leads to Mental Illness Later in Life

Research shows childhood maltreatment reduces the volume of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that creates long-term memories and contributes to learning--a process disrupted by traumatic stress responses. More specifically, volume reduction was observed in the subiculum region of the hippocampus, which relays information from the hippocampus to other parts of the brain, including signaling the dopamine system of the need to regulate the body's response to stress. Volume reduction in the subiculum is associated with developing addictions, depression, and schizophrenia.

I think this study is powerful as a counterargument to notions of mental illness as primarily the result of genetics. No doubt some of us are more sensitive to environmental stressors due to genetic predispositions, yet at least with regards to mental disorders, the environment seems to play a greater role.

Of note, the researchers used the ACE Study.