Reduced threat-safety discrimination and generally enhanced generalization responses in adversity exposed young adults with emerging psychiatric symptoms

Abstract

Background: Fear learning and generalization is one of the postulated transdiagnostic processes linking childhood adversity to psychopathology. Methods: Twenty-seven adversity-exposed individuals with (sub-)clinical psychiatric symptoms across at least two symptom dimensions (depressive, anxiety and psychotic symptoms) and 30 healthy controls, aged 17-24 years old, underwent a fear learning and generalization paradigm. Risk ratings and reaction times were measured to indicate the fear responses.Results: During fear acquisition, reduced threat-safety discrimination (quantified as the difference score between the danger and the safety cue) was demonstrated in the adversity group and this was driven by enhanced risk ratings for the safety cue. Moreover, a linear trend was observed, showing that the higher the levels of childhood adversity were, the higher the risk ratings for the safety cue as compared to the danger cue. This effect went beyond current psychiatric symptoms. During fear generalization, the generalization gradient in the adversity group did not differ from the control group. However, individuals exposed to adversity reported generally enhanced risk ratings across stimuli.Conclusion: Childhood adversity exposed individuals with (sub-)clinical psychiatric symptoms present similar alterations in fear learning and generalization as those with a diagnosable psychiatric disorder, possibly reflecting a vulnerability for further progression to psychopathology.