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130. Neuroendocrine and Neural Markers of Anxiety Vulnerability in Children
Abstract   Peer reviewed

130. Neuroendocrine and Neural Markers of Anxiety Vulnerability in Children

Jennifer Blackford, Jacqueline Clauss, Adaora Mgboh, Uma Rao and Margaret Benningfield
Biological psychiatry (1969), Vol.83(9 Suppl), pp.S53-S53
05/01/2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.148

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Abstract

Background Identifying neural correlates of anxiety vulnerability will provide critical information about the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. It has been proposed that hyper-responsivity to stress may one mechanism underlying anxiety risk. In the present study, we investigated cortisol and neural markers of stress sensitivity with anxiety vulnerability in children. Methods Psychiatrically healthy 8-10 year olds (n=39) were recruited represent a range of from low to high anxiety vulnerability. Cortisol was densely sampled over two weekend days (n=10) and during the scan (n=3) to provide: waking, awakening response, bedtime, and scan habituation measures of cortisol. Brain activity (ALFF) was measured in the amygdala and BNST. ANOVAs were performed. Results Child-report of anxiety vulnerability was predicted by the amygdala ALFF X cortisol awakening response (p = .01). In children with low to moderate awakening responses, anxiety vulnerability was positively correlated with amygdala activity at rest; however, for children with robust awakening responses, anxiety vulnerability was negatively correlated with amygdala activity. Parent-report of anxiety vulnerability was predicted by the interaction of amygdala ALFF X cortisol habituation during the scan (p = .003). In the children who showed a typical pattern of cortisol habituation, higher amygdala activity was correlated with higher anxiety vulnerability. However, in children with a sustained cortisol response across the scan, anxiety vulnerability was predicted by lower amygdala activity. Conclusions These data provide evidence for a brain-cortisol relationship in children at high-risk for developing anxiety, before the onset of disease, pointing an important signature of anxiety risk.
 Anxiety At-Risk Youth Functional Neuroimaging Cortisol

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