The neural correlates of childhood maltreatment and the ability to understand mental states of others

Figures & data

Table 1. Self-report of childhood trauma (N=46). Counts are overlapping and not unique counts.

CTQ	Mean (SD)	#None	#Low	#Moderate	#Severe
Total	40.70 (14.35)
EA	9.04 (4.51)	23	4	9	10
EN	12.93 (5.86)	13	3	6	24
PA	5.70 (1.71)	41	5	0	0
PN	7.50 (2.78)	36	9	1	0
SA	5.70 (3.32)	33	2	6	5

Table 2. Presence of Psychopathology (N=46). Counts are overlapping and not unique counts.

Psychopathology	Frequency	Psychopathology	Frequency
Axis-I disorders Current (#)		Lifetime (#)
-Major Depression	15	-Major Depression	8
-Social Phobia	7	-Social Phobia	4
-Specific Phobia	2
-Obsessions	2	-Obsessions	1
-Compulsions	4
-PTSD	10	-PTSD	2
-Generalized anxiety disorder	1	-Alcohol	3
		-Drugs	4
		-Eating disorder	3
		-Somatization disorder	1
		-Identity Disorder	1
		-ADD	1
Axis-II disorders (#)		VKP (frequency meeting criteria)
-Paranoid	4	-Paranoid	12
-Schizoid	1	-Schizoid	10
-Schizotypal	0	-Schizotypal	3
-Antisocial	0	-Antisocial	1
-Borderline	6	-Borderline	8
-Theatrical	0	-Theatrical	0
-Narcissistic	0	-Narcissistic	0
-Avoidant	11	-Avoidant	20
-Dependent	1	-Dependent	7
-Obsessive	2	-Obsessive	4
-Passive-aggressive	1	-Passive-aggressive	1
-Depressive	13	-Depressive	13

Table 3. Results of fMRI analyses on RMET using the contrast mental state > gender and FWE cluster extent threshold at p < .001 (IFG = Inferior frontal gyrus, STG = Superior temporal gyrus, MTG = Middle temporal gyrus).

		Cluster size		Voxel test value	MNI coordinates
Analysis	Relation/predictor	K	Label peak voxels	T	X	Y	Z
One sample t-test
	Positive	460	L IFG	9.13	−48	29	−2
			L IFG	8.19	−51	14	19
			L IFG	8.05	−54	23	7
		851	L STG	7.90	−60	−52	16
			L STG	7.82	−48	−58	13
			L STG	7.62	−36	−55	19
		416	R STG	6.45	63	−49	13
			R STG	5.55	54	−61	13
			R STG	5.36	54	−40	4
Regression analysis with all CTQ subscales*
	Sexual Abuse Positive	22	L IFG	4.10	−45	26	−11
			L IFG	3.81	−36	29	−8
PPI analysis**
	Positive	20	R MTG	4.37	51	−58	4
		35	R Insula	4.26	45	−13	10
		14	R STG	4.04	45	−10	−14
		12	R Parahippocampal gyrus	3.89	18	−43	−2

*Masked by whole brain mental state > gender contrast, ** cluster extent threshold with p < .001 and 10 voxels.

Figure 1. Whole brain one sample t-test on mental state > gender contrast. FWE cluster extent threshold with p < .001, left = left, MNI −45, 29, 1 (left and middle), MNI 54, −31, 13 (right).

Figure 2. a: Positive relation between SA and left IFG (MNI: −45, 26, 11) resulting from a regression analysis with all subscales (Yellow, FWE cluster extent threshold with p < .001) depicted on whole brain mental state > gender contrast (Red, FWE cluster extent with p < .001). b: Time series of gender and mental state contrast represent the mean activation of the active cluster in the left IFG (MNI: −45, 26, −11) for five volumes (TR = 2.2 s) starting at stimulus onset to four volumes after. The time series covers one trial (8000 ms) and the onset of the next trial (800 ms).

Figure 3. Results of functional connectivity analysis from cluster in left IFG related to SA, cluster extent threshold of 10 voxels and p < .001, MNI: 47, −12, 18, right = right.