This thesis describes a cross-sectional behavioral and neuroimaging study in a sample of n=85 adolescents with a history of childhood sexual abuse related PTSD (CSA-related PTSD), anxiety and/or... Show moreThis thesis describes a cross-sectional behavioral and neuroimaging study in a sample of n=85 adolescents with a history of childhood sexual abuse related PTSD (CSA-related PTSD), anxiety and/or depressive disorders or no psychiatric symptoms. We assessed attachment representation as well as psychopathological symptoms, attentional bias and emotional face processing among diagnostic groups. We also correlated unresolved-disorganized attachment representation (Ud) and psychopathology using a general psychopathology factor (GPF) to grey matter (volume), white matter (tracts) and resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the brain in the entire sample. We found that clinical groups did not significantly differ in psychopathology. The unresolved-disorganized cannot classify category (Ud/CC) was overrepresented in the CSA-related PTSD group. Coherence of mind also differentiated the clinical groups, but Ud did not. The CSA-related PTSD group had a negative attention bias for neutral and fearful faces, the anxiety/depressive disorders group only for fearful faces. No differences were found for emotional face processing among diagnostic groups. We found a differential relationship of Ud and a GPF to grey matter volume, white matter integrity of white matter tracts and RSFC for Ud. Ud was associated with lateralization of the brain to the left with regard to amygdala RSFC and hippocampal volume. Show less
