If early experiences are sufficiently catastrophic they leave an
endocrinological (1,2) and morphological (3) signature which is identical
to the changes apparent after severe stress in adults (4,5).
Likewise, there is a very considerable weight of congruent, albeit
subtle evidence of an organic component in schizophrenia, some of which
has been rehearsed and which continues to accumulate (6,7). To reject all
of the organic evidence seems to presuppose a duality between mental
states and brain function.
2. Rosler A Editorial: Long-term effects of childhood sexual
abuse on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. J CLIN
ENDOCRINOL METAB. 1994 78/2 (247-248)
3. Scott M.B. Koverola C. Hanna C. et al Hippocampal volume
in women victimised by childhood sexual abuse. Psychological
Medicine 1997 27; 951-959.
4. Bremner JD; Randall P; Scott TM; Bronen RA; Seibyl JP; Southwick
SM; Delaney RC; McCarthy G; Charney DS; Innis RB MRI-based
measurement of hippocampal volume in patients with combat-
related posttraumatic stress disorder. AM J PSYCHIATRY. 1995 152/7 (973-
981)
5. Bremner J D, Vythilingam M, Vermetten E, Southwick S M, McGlashan
T, Nazeer A, Khan S, et al. MRI and PET study of deficits
in hippocampal structure and function in women with childhood
sexual abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry
2003 May, VOL: 160 (5), P: 924-32.
6 V. Molina, J. Sanz, S. Reig, R. Martínez, F. Sarramea, R. Luque, C.
Benito, J. D. Gispert, J. Pascau, and M. Desco Hypofrontality in men with
first-episode psychosis Br J Psychiatry 2005 186: 203-208
7. Tilo T. J. Kircher, Tomasina M. Oh, Michael J. Brammer, and Philip
K. McGuire Neural correlates of syntax production in schizophrenia Br J
Psychiatry 2005 186: 209-214.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
08 March 2005
Malcolm P Weller
Hon Research Prof.
School of Health and Soclial Sciences, Middlesex University.
Rapid Response:
Trying to knit fog?
If early experiences are sufficiently catastrophic they leave an
endocrinological (1,2) and morphological (3) signature which is identical
to the changes apparent after severe stress in adults (4,5).
Likewise, there is a very considerable weight of congruent, albeit
subtle evidence of an organic component in schizophrenia, some of which
has been rehearsed and which continues to accumulate (6,7). To reject all
of the organic evidence seems to presuppose a duality between mental
states and brain function.
1. De-Bellis MD; Chrousos GP; Dorn LD; Burke L; Helmers K; Kling MA;
Trickett PK; Putnam FW Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
dysregulation in sexually abused girls. J CLIN ENDOCRINOL METAB.
1994 78/2 (249-255).
2. Rosler A Editorial: Long-term effects of childhood sexual
abuse on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. J CLIN
ENDOCRINOL METAB. 1994 78/2 (247-248)
3. Scott M.B. Koverola C. Hanna C. et al Hippocampal volume
in women victimised by childhood sexual abuse. Psychological
Medicine 1997 27; 951-959.
4. Bremner JD; Randall P; Scott TM; Bronen RA; Seibyl JP; Southwick
SM; Delaney RC; McCarthy G; Charney DS; Innis RB MRI-based
measurement of hippocampal volume in patients with combat-
related posttraumatic stress disorder. AM J PSYCHIATRY. 1995 152/7 (973-
981)
5. Bremner J D, Vythilingam M, Vermetten E, Southwick S M, McGlashan
T, Nazeer A, Khan S, et al. MRI and PET study of deficits
in hippocampal structure and function in women with childhood
sexual abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry
2003 May, VOL: 160 (5), P: 924-32.
6 V. Molina, J. Sanz, S. Reig, R. Martínez, F. Sarramea, R. Luque, C.
Benito, J. D. Gispert, J. Pascau, and M. Desco Hypofrontality in men with
first-episode psychosis Br J Psychiatry 2005 186: 203-208
7. Tilo T. J. Kircher, Tomasina M. Oh, Michael J. Brammer, and Philip
K. McGuire Neural correlates of syntax production in schizophrenia Br J
Psychiatry 2005 186: 209-214.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests