Childhood maltreatment may affect brain development, study finds

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Childhood maltreatment may affect brain development, study finds
By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog
February 13, 2012, 5:04 p.m.

Children who have been victims of abuse may suffer long-term psychological effects well into adulthood. But now, a new study shows that the effects of abuse can be physiological as well.

....Previous research has shown that the still-developing hippocampus can be susceptible to stress at an early age, the authors point out – making childhood abuse a potential factor for the fundamental changes in the brains of the adults they examined.

Based on the parts of the brain affected, childhood maltreatment could potentially be linked to risk for drug addiction and psychosis later in life, the authors explain.  FULL STORY

Something seems pretty shoddy about this research when there's so many "iffy" words used. I'll bet Wexler is going to look into it.