Approximately 4,000 adolescents and young adults, ages 15-24, commit suicide each year. Moreover, an even greater number of youth make non-lethal suicide attempts (estimated at 100-200 suicide attempts for each completed suicide), often preceded by severe suicidal ideation (SI). Many risk factors for suicide have been identified in previous research. Child maltreatment, particularly child sexual and physical abuse, is robustly associated with SI in adolescence. Despite the consistency of this association, we know surprisingly little about mechanisms that may help explain why some maltreated individuals go on to contemplate suicide while others do not. Increased emotional reactivity and impaired regulation are associated with increased risk of SI. Emerging research suggests that child maltreatment influences emotional reactivity and regulation. Thus, one potential mechanism may be through neural systems involved in emotion regulation. The primary aim of this proposal is to examine the effects of child maltreatment on the neural systems involved in emotion regulation and associated SI. Specifically, this proposal will examine the effects of child maltreatment on amygdala activation (reactivity) when participants view negative (vs neutral) stimuli. Similarly, this proposal will examine ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activation during trials when participants are asked to down-regulate their emotional response (regulation) (Hypothesis 1). Next, this study will examine the associations between amygdala reactivity and vmPFC activation and SI (Hypothesis 2). Finally, this study will examine these neural systems as potential mediators of the association between child adversity and SI (Hypothesis 3). Participants will be drawn from a larger, primary R01 grant and employs multiple methods to answer study questions. These include neuroimaging, self- and parent-report, clinical interview, and psychophysiological measures. The sample size will include 100 youth, 50 with a history of child maltreatment and 50 matched controls. Exploratory analyses will examine whether or not these neural systems are specific to SI, or may also be associated with other forms of self-injury, including nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts. The results of this study will contribute to developmental models of adolescent emotion regulation, and also will yield information to improve the identification of SI risk among youth. Training as part of this award includes developmental cognitive neuroscience (including neuroimaging), developmental psychopathology, and advanced statistical approaches to developmental data.

Public Health Relevance

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. Child maltreatment and emotion regulation are common yet understudied risk factors for adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The proposed study investigates the effects of child maltreatment on neural systems involved in emotional reactivity and regulation and subsequent suicidal ideation among youth ages 11-16.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32MH108238-02
Application #
9135967
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Sarampote, Christopher S
Project Start
2015-09-01
Project End
2018-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Miller, Adam Bryant; Sheridan, Margaret A; Hanson, Jamie L et al. (2018) Dimensions of deprivation and threat, psychopathology, and potential mediators: A multi-year longitudinal analysis. J Abnorm Psychol 127:160-170
Miller, Adam Bryant; McLaughlin, Katie A; Busso, Daniel S et al. (2018) Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation and Adolescent Suicidal Ideation. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 3:125-132
Miller, Adam Bryant; Linthicum, Katherine P; Helms, Sarah W et al. (2018) Reciprocal Associations Between Adolescent Girls' Chronic Interpersonal Stress and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Multi-wave Prospective Investigation. J Adolesc Health 63:694-700
Eisenlohr-Moul, Tory A; Miller, Adam B; Giletta, Matteo et al. (2018) HPA axis response and psychosocial stress as interactive predictors of suicidal ideation and behavior in adolescent females: a multilevel diathesis-stress framework. Neuropsychopharmacology 43:2564-2571
Gallagher, Michelle L; Miller, Adam Bryant (2018) Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Children and Adolescents: An Ecological Model of Resilience. Adolesc Res Rev 3:123-154
Miller, Adam Bryant; Prinstein, Mitchell J; Munier, Emily et al. (2018) Emotion Reactivity and Regulation in Adolescent Girls Following an Interpersonal Rejection. J Cogn Neurosci :1-13
Nesi, Jacqueline; Miller, Adam B; Prinstein, Mitchell J (2017) Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms and Subsequent Technology-Based Interpersonal Behaviors: A Multi-Wave Study. J Appl Dev Psychol 51:12-19
Miller, Adam Bryant; Eisenlohr-Moul, Tory; Giletta, Matteo et al. (2017) A within-person approach to risk for suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior: Examining the roles of depression, stress, and abuse exposure. J Consult Clin Psychol 85:712-722
Miller, Adam Bryant; Williams, Caitlin; Day, Catherine et al. (2017) Effects of Cognitive Distortions on the Link Between Dating Violence Exposure and Substance Problems in Clinically Hospitalized Youth. J Clin Psychol 73:733-744
Miller, Adam Bryant; Jenness, Jessica L; Oppenheimer, Caroline W et al. (2017) Childhood Emotional Maltreatment as a Robust Predictor of Suicidal Ideation: A 3-Year Multi-Wave, Prospective Investigation. J Abnorm Child Psychol 45:105-116