The effect of adverse childhood experiences on chronic pain and major depression in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
We found that adverse childhood experiences exposure can result in different functional and structural brain alterations in adults with MDD or chronic pain compared with those without adverse childhood experiences.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with chronic pain, major depressive disorder (MDD), or both49 studies
- Comparison
- Adverse childhood experiences vs without adverse childhood experiences
- Outcome
- Central neural changes (brain regions) associated with adverse childhood experiences on neuroimaging
Methodological detailsactivation likelihood estimate meta-analysis, two independent reviewers
- Activation likelihood estimate meta-analysis
- Two independent reviewers
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Brain abnormalities associated with adverse childhood experiences
- MDD with adverse childhood experiences: functional and structural abnormalities in superior frontal, lingual gyrus, hippocampus, insula, putamen, superior temporal, inferior temporal gyrus and anterior cerebellum
- MDD or chronic pain with adverse childhood experiences: brain function abnormalities in cingulate gyrus, inferior parietal lobule and precuneus (task-based functional MRI)
Further pooled results
Eligible studies by condition
- Studies of adverse childhood experiences and MDD
- 43
- Studies of adverse childhood experiences and chronic pain
- 6
- Studies of adverse childhood experiences, chronic pain and MDD together
- 0
Original publication
The effect of adverse childhood experiences on chronic pain and major depression in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Anaesth. Published 21 April 2023. doi:10.
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