Project Summary

Christine Marcelle Heim, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2002) of Emory University, will investigate hormonal and autonomic responses, as well as indices of blood clotting, after mental laboratory stress in abused men with or without depression and compares findings with data obtained from abused women.  The interaction of factors such as adverse events early in life (i.e., child abuse or neglect) and constitutional factors (i.e., gender) influence the risk for major depression and cardiovascular disease, and likely modify the neurobiological systems integrally involved in the mediation of stress and emotion, such as the corticotropin-releasing hormone system.  Dr. Heim will investigate behaviors of violence, as well as their genetic and neurobiological underpinnings.  She will also explore whether psychopharmacological treatment normalizes biological and behavioral changes in abused men.  Insight will be gained into the stress-diathesis of depression and cardiovascular disease as well as their prevention or treatment after child abuse, and opens way for the prevention of next generation child maltreatment in our society.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)

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