Prenatal Adversities and Risk of Persistent Youth Psychopathology and Altered Cortical Thinning

Is adverse prenatal exposure (APE) burden associated with long-term risk for psychopathology and altered cortical maturation trajectories in adolescents?In this 4-year follow-up cohort study of 8515 singleton children in the ABCD Study, exposure to multiple APEs was associated with persistent, dose-dependent increases in the risk of clinically significant psychopathology and diffuse acceleration in age-associated cortical thinning during adolescence. Findings were further supported by within-family comparisons in 414 sibling pairs discordant for APEs.These findings suggest the need for early identification, longitudinal monitoring, and neurodevelopmentally informed prevention strategies for at-risk youth.

Corresponding Author: Jodi M. Gilman, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 101 Merrimac, Boston, MA 02114 (jgilman1@mgh.harvard.edu).

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