Maternal Traumatic Stress and Youth Alcohol Use
Kathleen Crum
Primary Investigator
Brief description of study
The purpose of this research is to understand how a mother’s history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may influence her child’s emotions, brain responses, and risk for starting to drink alcohol during adolescence. The findings may help guide the development of better strategies to prevent alcohol problems in youth at higher risk.
Detailed description of study
Participants will undergo an initial screening to ensure eligibility and to rule out metal implants or other contraindications to MRI. Both parent and child will complete MRI safety screening forms during the consent/assent process. On the day of scanning, a trained MRI technician will complete safety checks to confirm that no metal objects are present. A urine pregnancy test will be administered to all female participants of childbearing potential prior to scanning; participants with a positive result will not undergo MRI. Research visits will take place in the IU Health Neuroscience Center, where the MRI scanner and soundproof, private evaluation rooms are available. Parents will complete a structured diagnostic interview about trauma history and PTSD symptoms. Adolescents will complete questionnaires about alcohol use, emotions, and related mental health factors. Follow-up surveys may be conducted remotely using IU REDCap, in a location of participants' choosing. When the research team provides reminders/instructions related to these surveys, parent and child participants will be encouraged to complete the surveys in a private location, and not to share their answers with each other. REDCap is a secure platform for administering surveys and storing research study data.
Eligibility of study
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
- Conditions: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD
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Age: 18 years or above
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Gender: All
Overall Inclusion Criteria:
• Participating biological mother 18 years or older of a 12-14 year old child
• Child is MRI-eligible
o No metal implants, prosthetics, orthodontic devices, or claustrophobia, and are
not pregnant
• Biological mother has a history of trauma exposure, defined as endorsement of
experiencing or witnessing at least one interpersonal violence event on the Life Events
Checklist prior to conceiving participating child
Overall Exclusion Criteria:
• Child has a history of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disorders, pervasive
developmental disorder or autism spectrum disorder, psychotic disorders or traumatic
brain injury by parent report
• Child has a history of using alcohol and/or other substances defined as mother and/or
youth endorsing “yes” to one or more potential substances
• Child has a history of prenatal exposure to alcohol and/or other substances during
pregnancy defined as mother endorsing “yes” to one or potential substances that they
may have used during pregnancy
• Mothers' self-report intellectual disorders, pervasive developmental disorder or autism
spectrum disorder, or psychotic disorders
Additional Inclusion Criteria for PTSD or Maternal Trauma-Exposed Group
• Biological mother has a trauma history prior to conceiving participating youth and current
history of likely significant PTSD symptoms defined as a score of 31 or above on the
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Checklist
Additional Exclusion Criteria for TEC Group
• Biological parent with lifetime history of likely significant PTSD symptoms defined as a
score of 31 or above on the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Checklist
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