Physical neglect constitutes an experience of deprivation characterised by the absence of care, supervision, and stimulation, which may affect cognitive development during adolescence and hinder the learning of strategies to cope with demands. This study aimed to analyse coping styles and cognitive performance in adolescents in residential care with physical neglect as the predominant form of maltreatment, as well as to examine the association between both dimensions.

This observational, cross-sectional study included 45 adolescents in residential care, aged between 12 and 16 years, with physical neglect as the predominant type of maltreatment. The instruments used were the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS), the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C), and the Digit Span and Coding subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V).

Participants showed a predominance of the non-productive coping style, together with lower-than-expected scores for their age and educational level in selective attention, processing speed, working memory, planning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition. Lower cognitive and executive performance was related to greater use of the non-productive coping style. In addition, linear regression analyses showed that the global cognitive performance index was significantly associated with the non-productive coping style, even after statistically controlling for sex, age, and polyvictimization.

These findings suggest the importance of jointly considering coping styles and cognitive performance in adolescents in residential care with physical neglect, as well as the potential value of interventions that integrate emotion regulation, executive functions, and problem-solving.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have long-lasting effects in Chinese older adults. Using China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data, we examined ACEs’ impact on chronic sleep disturbances combining poor sleep quality and abnormal duration in China’s aging population.

We analyzed 20,450 CHARLS participants (2014 baseline). After excluding those with missing ACEs data (n = 11,006), incomplete sleep data, or aged <45 years and with psychiatric conditions, the final sample comprised 5,533 individuals. ACE exposure was categorized into: Class 1 (0 ACEs, n = 1,382), Class 2 (1 ACE, n = 1,769), Class 3 (2 ACEs, n = 1,264), and Class 4 (≥3 ACEs, n = 1,118). Composite sleep disturbances were defined by CES-D-10 self-reported sleep quality (4-point scale item ≥3) and abnormal duration (<6 or >9 hours). Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, smoking, drinking, and chronic diseases, with trend tests modeling ACEs ordinally.

A graded association emerged: adjusted ORs increased from 1.30 (95% CI: 1.05–1.59) for 1 ACE to 2.1 (1.69–2.62) for ≥3 ACEs (Ptrend < 0.001). Five ACE types showed significant associations: household mental illness showed the strongest association (OR = 1.77, 1.53–32.06, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed consistent associations between ACE exposure (≥1) and increased risk of Chronic Sleep Disturbances across most population strata (OR range: 1.27–1.81, P < 0.05).

Childhood adversity, particularly household mental illness, was significantly associated with sleep disturbances in older adults. The observed 2.1-fold prevalence difference suggests that older adults with high ACE exposure may benefit from targeted screening and early intervention.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape children’s socioemotional development, yet longitudinal evidence from low- and middle-income countries remains limited. This study examined how ACEs relate to internalizing, externalizing and prosocial behaviours from childhood to adolescence in a rural Pakistani cohort.

Data were drawn from the Bachpan Cohort, a longitudinal study including 1,791 observations across three waves: ages 4–5, 8–9 and 12–15 years. ACEs were assessed using an adapted ACE-International Questionnaire. Outcomes were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Network analysis, dose-response modelling and moderation analyses were employed.

Emotional neglect was the most prevalent ACE (83.7%). Parental psychiatric issues, parental trauma exposure and emotional neglect were the most central ACE stressors. A dose-response relationship emerged: compared to children with no ACEs, those with four or more ACEs showed higher internalizing (incidence ratio [IR] = 4.24) and externalizing problems (IR = 3.42) and lower prosocial behaviour (IR = 0.90). Girls showed greater internalizing vulnerability; boys showed more externalizing problems. ACE effects on internalizing problems strengthened with age.

ACEs are strongly associated with internalizing, externalizing and prosocial outcomes from childhood to adolescence. Findings highlight the need for tiered, gender-sensitive and developmentally appropriate interventions in low-resource settings.

Although adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been related to poorer lifespan health, their association with DNA methylation-based indicators of biological aging during adolescence remains incompletely understood, particularly across intersecting social positions. To address this gap, we used an intersectional race–sex approach to identify ACE patterns and examine their associations with biological aging in adolescence.

Participants (n = 1,655) were drawn from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a racially diverse urban U.S. birth cohort. ACEs were measured prospectively from ages 3 to 9 and modeled using latent class analysis with measurement invariance testing across six intersecting race–sex groups. Biological aging was assessed using saliva-derived DNA methylation measures at ages 9 and 15, and for change from age 9 to 15 using PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE.

Two ACE classes emerged within each racial/ethnic group. Among Black participants, females showed higher PhenoAge estimates than males across classes at ages 9 and 15 and for longitudinal change. Among White participants, females in the Single-Parent Poverty & Maternal Substance Use class showed higher PhenoAge estimates at age 9 than females in the Maternal Substance Use class, although this difference was not observed at age 15 or for longitudinal change. Findings for GrimAge and DunedinPACE were less consistent.

Prospectively measured ACE configurations showed selective associations with adolescent DNA methylation–based aging measures, most consistently for PhenoAge. Findings support intersectional, person-centered approaches to identifying heterogeneity in early biological risk and underscore the need for caution in interpreting clock-specific findings in youth.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are complex illnesses influenced by genetic, biological and psycho-social factors, necessitating large clinical deep-phenotyped cohorts. Here, we describe the Region Midt Schizophrenia (RMS) Cohort, which aims to establish such a large, representative cohort with long-term follow-up, enabling large-scale studies on SSD aetiology and prognosis.

The RMS cohort includes patients aged ≥15 years diagnosed with a first-episode SSD recruiting at 6 Danish psychiatric hospitals. Baseline and follow-up assessments at 1, 2, 3 and 12 months and 2, 3, 5 and 10 years cover sociodemographic measures, psychotic and negative symptoms, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), level of functioning, sleep, actigraphy, cognition, side effects and medication adherence. Blood is collected at baseline and months 3 and 12 and at years 2, 3, 5 and 10 enabling comprehensive molecular analyses, for example, genetics and omics. Age-and sex-matched healthy controls will complete a baseline assessment including blood draw. Participants give informed consent for linkage with Danish nationwide register-based data.

By February 23rd, 2026, a total of 131 participants with SSD have been recruited (109 with schizophrenia, median age 25 years (IQR 8), 54% females). Retention rates at 1, 2, 3 and 12 months are 86%, 80%, 78% and 75%, respectively. Our vision is continuous recruitment of 100 participants/year, establishing a large, deep-phenotyped and representative clinical cohort with long-term follow-up. The RMS cohort will serve as the basis for several studies on aetiological and prognostic factors and is designed to match with similar international cohorts enabling further collaborations.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), but the relationship between specific adversities and the persistence of PLEs in young people remains unclear. We examined associations between distinct ACEs and the persistence of PLEs until 24 years old.

Using longitudinal data from participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort with at least one PLE datapoint, we used group-based trajectory modeling to estimate longitudinal trajectories of PLEs from age 12–24. We examined their associations with bullying victimization, maltreatment, parental mental health problems, parental substance abuse, parental separation, and parental intimate partner violence prior to first PLE experiences.

Among 4,448 participants, a three-group trajectory model provided the best fit, revealing low, increasing and persistent PLE groups from ages 12–24. In fully adjusted multinomial logistic regression models, those exposed to bullying were more likely to belong to either the increasing (relative risk ratio [RRR]: 1.83, 95%CIs: 1.26–2.66) or high (RRR: 1.78, 95%CIs: 1.07–2.93) PLEs group than the low PLE group; those exposed to maltreatment were more likely to be in the increasing PLE group (RRR: 1.47, 95%CIs: 1.03–2.10). No other ACEs were associated with PLE trajectories.

Bullying was associated with persistent PLEs up to 24 years old, independent of other forms of childhood adversity, with timing-specific effects of maltreatment on increasing symptoms emerging later in adolescence. Findings provide further evidence for the importance of prioritizing bullying and maltreatment reduction as public health targets.

The individual effects of genetic factors and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on risk of psychosis, including schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BIP), have been widely acknowledged, but their interaction effects on individual psychopathological symptoms remain unclear.

Based on data from 163,704 individuals in the UK Biobank, we investigated the joint effects of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) of SCZ and BIP and ACEs on psychopathology. ACEs status and 55 psychopathological symptoms from seven domains were measured retrospectively using an online mental health questionnaire in 2016. Recent genome-wide association studies for SCZ and BIP were combined with genotype data to generate PRSs. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted to explore univariate and joint main effects of PRSs and ACEs on psychopathological symptoms, as well as their additive and multiplicative interaction effects.

The interaction mechanisms for PRSs and ACEs varied across symptom domains: additive interactions were observed on the depression (RERIBIP-ACEs = 0.20–0.25), anxiety (RERISCZ-ACEs = 0.20; RERIBIP-ACEs = 0.22–0.26), help-seeking (RERISCZ-ACEs = 0.24; RERIBIP-ACEs = 0.23), and cognition domains (RERISCZ-ACEs = −0.23 to -0.17), whereas multiplicative interactions were only detected on the psychotic (betaSCZ-ACEs = −0.543; betaBIP-ACEs = −0.181), mania (betaBIP-ACEs = −0.195), self-harm or suicide (betaSCZ-ACEs = −0.118), and cognitive domains (betaSCZ-ACEs = −0.204 to −0.157).

The interplay mechanisms for genetic liability to SCZ and BIP and ACEs vary across symptom domains. This study reveals heterogeneity in gene–ACEs interaction mechanisms underlying psychosis and may provide personalized guidance for psychological care after ACEs.

The comorbidity of psychiatric and metabolic conditions is prevalent and poses a heavy burden on public health. Several biopsychosocial factors are known to influence both metabolic and psychiatric health, including inflammation, eating behavior, physical activity, and early life stress. Few studies, however, have examined the constellation of interrelationships among multiple risk domains simultaneously.

Using a sample of 200 medically healthy adults enrolled in a parent study, we used Gaussian Graphical Modeling, a type of network analysis, to characterize interdependent cross-sectional associations between early life stress (childhood trauma), health behaviors (diet quality and physical activity), blood-based biomarkers of metabolic functioning (insulin resistance, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]), and three domains of mental health symptoms (depressive, anxious, and post-traumatic stress symptoms). We hypothesized that the network structure would highlight a pattern whereby higher CRP, poorer diet quality, lower physical activity, and higher childhood trauma would associate with increased risk for both metabolic and psychiatric impairments.

Findings revealed a positive conditional association between CRP and childhood trauma, which may function as an intermediary process to increase risk for both metabolic impairments and psychiatric symptoms in adulthood. Further, higher physical activity was associated with lower insulin resistance and fewer depressive symptoms, and better diet quality was associated with lower CRP levels.

Results highlight potential avenues for interventions aimed at reducing inflammation, improving health behavior, and addressing the effects of childhood trauma to improve physical and mental health comorbidities.

The rising global prevalence of pediatric mental health problems requires the identification of preventable factors underlying their development. This study assessed whether maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pregnancy stress were intergenerationally associated with offspring mental health.

This study used data from 34 sites in the nationwide Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Cohort. Eligible parent–child dyads (child age: 1.5–18 years) provided data on at least one measure of maternal stress and at least one measure of child mental health. Study aims were evaluated using regression analyses, including interaction tests to determine potential effect modifiers.

Participants were organized into three subsamples with data on (1) maternal ACEs (N = 2,906), (2) perceived prenatal stress (N = 4,441), and (3) both stress exposures (N = 834). After adjusting for confounders, maternal ACEs and prenatal stress were significantly associated with child mental health problems (B = 2.53 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.09, 2.96], p < 0.0001 and B = 2.36 [95% CI: 2.03, 2.68], p < 0.0001, respectively). Among participants with data on both stress exposures, maternal ACEs (B = 1.72, 95% CI: [0.96, 2.48], p < 0.0001) and prenatal stress (B = 2.05, 95% CI: [1.29, 2.80], p < 0.0001) were independently associated with child mental health problems. Neither maternal ACEs nor child sex modified the association between prenatal stress and child mental health problems.

Maternal exposure to ACEs and pregnancy stress were associated with the development of child mental health problems. These findings highlight the need for policies and interventions that mitigate exposure to adversity and protect pregnant individuals and their children from the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems.

Investigating metabolic differences between pre-pubertal Flinders sensitive (FSL) and resistant (FRL) line rats and determine the impact of early-life adversity on these differences.

Untargeted metabolomic profiling of whole-brain tissue from postnatal day 25 Flinders line rats, exposed to maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW), or not, was done by using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS).

Irrespective of MSEW, FSL rats had higher urea and lower glutamine, norvaline and valine concentrations than age-matched FRL controls. Across strains, MSEW reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, glutamine, lactate, phenylalanine, norvaline and valine concentrations, whist elevating 2-keto-3-methylbutyric acid, glycerophosphate, and urea. This effect was most pronounced in FRL rats.

Pre-pubertal FSL rats displayed distinct metabolic signatures associated with altered energy and amino acid metabolism. Early-life stress further disrupts these pathways, highlighting key metabolites as potential targets in the expansion of the biological constructs underlying the pre-pubertal FSL/FRL model.

Chronic headache, including migraine, is often associated with psychiatric conditions and adverse childhood experiences. This study examines the feasibility of Creating Calm (CC), a modified form of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) that targets the emotional impacts of adversity in headache patients at a tertiary headache center. We also explored changes in headache days, disability, psychosocial well-being and possible mechanisms to plan for a randomized controlled trial.

We conducted a prospective single-arm pragmatic pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of CC delivered as nine weekly group telehealth sessions in a tertiary headache clinic for adults with high-frequency episodic and chronic headache. Continuation of medical treatments was consistent with the pragmatic design. CC integrates education, mindfulness, cognitive and behavioral approaches, with an emotion-focused mind-body approach used in EAET. Feasibility was based on recruitment, retention and adherence measures. Acceptability was measured through participant satisfaction. We also explored changes in headache, psychosocial and mechanism measures before, after, and 2 months post-treatment.

Of the 33 participants recruited, 30 (91%) completed at least 7 out of 9 sessions, and 28 (85%) completed surveys. Participants reported satisfaction with the intervention (mean [SD] 47.6 [10.4] out of 60 Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale-Revised [STTS-R]). Exploratory analyses found a signal of reduction in headache days per month (mean [SD], 20.8 [7.6] to 15.5 [7.8], p = 0.004), disability, depression and improvement in global mental health following intervention.

This real-world pilot study supports the feasibility and acceptability of modified EAET for patients with headache, warranting a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Psychological distress is one of the major public health challenges during the emerging adulthood period, which is a developmental stage characterized by major life transformations and instability. Emerging adults are more vulnerable to psychological distress as they frequently deal with different pressures about relationships, work, education and identity exploration. The rising prevalence of psychological distress can impair physical health and wellbeing along with the initiation of harmful behaviors such as substance use.

The study aims to explore the prevalence and associated factors of psychological distress among emerging adult students, comparing female and male participants.

Data were collected from 957 emerging adults in 12 institutions under Mangalore University in the Udupi district of Karnataka, India, pursuing bachelor’s degrees. Along with the sociodemographic pro forma, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to measure psychological distress, the World Health Organization’s Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening tool (WHO ASSIST version 3.0) was used to measure substance use, and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale was used to identify adverse childhood experiences. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were employed to understand the determinants of psychological distress among participants.

Female participants reported a higher risk of experiencing psychological distress compared to male participants. Overall, 27.06% of participants experienced psychological distress, with 11.8% likely to have mild, 9.71% moderate and 5.53% severe mental disorders. While adverse childhood experiences were reported to be a major factor associated with psychological distress among both the groups (AOR 6.218, 95% CI (3.546, 10.901), p < 0.001, for female), (AOR 1.965, 95% CI (1.073, 3.601), p = 0.029, for male) substance use pattern during the COVID19 pandemic was also predicted higher psychological distress among male participants.

In the study setting, psychological distress was prevalent among emerging adults, with a higher incidence among females. Adverse childhood events and substance use further elevated vulnerability. These findings highlight the critical need for culturally relevant and gender-sensitive mental health interventions.

Parental adverse childhood experiences have been associated with poorer health outcomes for children in the general population. This single-centre study examined the prevalence of parental adverse childhood experiences in a sample of young children with single ventricle CHD, the associations between parental adverse childhood experiences and child health outcomes, and the moderating effects of parental stress and social support on the relationship between parental adverse childhood experiences and child health outcomes.

Parents (N = 72) responded to questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, parental adverse childhood experiences, social support, and stress. Child health outcomes (hospital admissions, length of stay, missed appointments) were assessed via parent-report and medical record review.

Half of parents (52.8%) endorsed exposure to at least one adverse childhood experience. In univariate analyses, children whose parents had a history of adverse childhood experiences were 1.78 times as likely to have more parent-reported hospital admissions (p = 0.002) and 2.22 times as likely to have more missed visits (p = 0.03) compared to children of parents without a history of adverse childhood experiences. Parental social support significantly moderated the relationship between parental adverse childhood experiences and total hospital length of stay (p = 0.03). Specifically, for each unit increase in parents’ social support total score, parents with a history of adverse childhood experiences were likely to have an 83% reduction in their child’s length of stay.

Parental adverse childhood experiences may be associated with poorer single ventricle CHD outcomes. Strengthening parental social support may improve health outcomes for children with single ventricle CHD in the setting of pre-existing psychosocial risk.