Abstract

This study of Australian adolescents (N = 88, 12-13-years-old) investigated the relationship between hippocampal grey matter volume (GMV) and self-reported psychological distress (K10) at four timepoints, across 12 months. Participants were divided into two groups; those who had K10 scores between 10 and 15 for all four timepoints were categorised as “low distress” (i.e., control group; n = 38), while participants who had K10 scores of 16 or higher at least once over the year were categorised as “moderate-high distress” (n = 50). Associations were tested by GEE fitting of GMV and K10 measures at the same time point, and in the preceding and subsequent timepoints. Analyses revealed smaller preceding left GMV and larger preceding right GMV were associated with higher subsequent K10 scores in the “moderate-high distress” group. This was not observed in the control group. In contrast, the control group showed significant co-occurring associations (i.e., at the same TP) between GMV and K10 scores. The “moderate-high distress” group experienced greater variability in distress. These results suggest that GMV development in early adolescence is differently associated with psychological distress for those who experience “moderate-high distress” at some point over the year, compared to controls. These findings offer a novel way to utilise short-interval, multiple time-point longitudinal data to explore changes in volume and experience of psychological distress in early adolescents. The results suggest hippocampal volume in early adolescence may be linked to fluctuations in psychological distress.

中文翻译：

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青春期早期心理困扰与海马灰质关联的短间隔纵向研究

摘要

这项针对澳大利亚青少年（N  = 88，12-13 岁）的研究调查了 12 个月内四个时间点的海马灰质体积 (GMV) 与自我报告的心理困扰 (K10) 之间的关系。参与者被分为两组；所有四个时间点 K10 分数在 10 到 15 之间的参与者被归类为“低度痛苦”（即对照组；n  = 38），而一年中至少一次 K10 分数为 16 或更高的参与者被归类为“低度痛苦”组。 “中度至高度痛苦”（n  = 50）。通过在同一时间点以及之前和之后的时间点对 GMV 和 K10 测量值进行 GEE 拟合来测试关联性。分析显示，较小的前左 GMV 和较大的前右 GMV 与“中高痛苦”组中较高的后续 K10 分数相关。在对照组中没有观察到这一点。相反，对照组在 GMV 和 K10 分数之间显示出显着的共存关联（即在相同的 TP 下）。“中度至高度痛苦”组的痛苦变化更大。这些结果表明，与对照组相比，对于那些在一年中的某个时刻经历过“中度至高度痛苦”的人来说，青春期早期的 GMV 发展与心理困扰存在不同的相关性。这些发现提供了一种利用短间隔、多时间点纵向数据来探索青少年早期心理困扰的数量和经历的变化的新方法。结果表明，青春期早期的海马体积可能与心理困扰的波动有关。