ABCD analysis links childhood maltreatment with brain volumes in early adolescence

Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data from 11,866 children aged 9–10. Mixed-effects models assessed associations between five maltreatment subtypes and total maltreatment scores with structural and functional measures in selected brain regions, including the hippocampus, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Analyses tested sex interactions and used false discovery rate correction for multiple comparisons.

Sexual abuse was associated with smaller hippocampal volume in boys (p=0.003), but not girls. Emotional abuse was associated with lower lateral orbitofrontal cortex volume in boys (p=0.026) and marginally larger volume in girls (p=0.050). Across sexes, higher total maltreatment scores were associated with smaller hippocampal, amygdala and lateral orbitofrontal volumes (FDR-adjusted p=0.015, 0.022 and 0.022, respectively). These total-score associations were attenuated after socioeconomic adjustment.

The findings describe associations, not evidence that maltreatment caused the observed brain differences or that the imaging measures predict clinical outcomes. The study used existing observational data, and the attenuation after socioeconomic adjustment highlights potential confounding. The reported results do not establish implications for diagnosis or treatment.