Our findings suggest that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system hyperreactivity, presumably due to CRF hypersecretion, is a persistent consequence of childhood abuse that may contribute to the diathesis for adulthood psychopathological conditions. Furthermore, these results imply a role for CRF receptor antagonists in the prevention and treatment of psychopathological conditions related to early-life stress. JAMA. 2000;284:592-597

Recent studies have focused on the behavioral and neurobiological sequella of exposure to early adverse events. We hypothesize that early adverse experiences result in an increased sensitivity to the effects of stress later in life and render an individual vulnerable to stress-related psychiatric disorders. This vulnerability may be mediated by persistent changes in corticotropin-releasing-factor (CRF)-containing neurons, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and the sympathetic nervous system. We therefore present an overview of the CRF system and its role as a mediator in the development of the stress response, major depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The literature pertaining to behavioral and neurobiological alterations associated with exposure to early adverse life events in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans is reviewed. We focus on animal models that precipitate depressive and anxiety symptoms while producing neuroendocrine alterations that mimic those seen in adults with those disorders. The literature integrating neurobiological and behavioral consequences of early life stress is also reviewed, focusing primarily on infants born to mothers with depression and on infants who were abused or neglected.

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This is an intersubjective review of Loewen, G. V. (2012)Uvaldina Montoya Janecek is an educator with experience teaching students of all ages, from prekindergarten to adult. She has been a bilingual early childhood teacher and a college instructor of education courses and ESL classes for adults. She has a commitment to leading organizations that serve students who have had challenges succeeding in traditional school settings. Uvaldina participated in efforts to establish some of the first community health clinics in underserved areas of Dallas County. E-mail: Uvaldina.Janecek@untdallas.edu Glenda Moss is a former middle school teacher, is a professor and interim dean of the School of Education at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Her research interests include critical narrative ethnography in PeK-16 settings, critical pedagogy, and multicultural education. She is the author of Crossing Boundaries and Building Learning Communities. E-mail: Glenda.Moss@untdallas.edu Yolanda Graham is a lecturer with extensive expertise in early childhood education. Yolanda has an undergraduate degree in business and a master's degree in early childhood education. In addition to the many years of teaching grades prekindergarten to third grade, Yolanda has served as an instructional and reading specialist in a large urban school district. She was hired at UNT Dallas specifically to train our students in instructional strategies for teaching mathematics concepts in the early grades.

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