NCJ Number
215617
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 45 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 1059-1067
Date Published
September 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined the influence of maltreatment and associated psychiatric effects on children's behavioral responses to reward stimuli.
Abstract
The study found that maltreated children selected risk options faster than children who had not been maltreated (nonmaltreated); however, whereas nonmaltreated children responded more quickly as the chance of winning increased, maltreated children did not vary in response speed when the likelihood of winning increased. In choosing between high-risk and low-risk options, maltreated children with depressive disorders more often selected safe rather than risky options compared with nonmaltreated children. There were no differences between maltreated and nonmaltreated children in self-report ratings of positive or negative reactions to winning or not winning. This initial study of responses to reward lays the foundation for subsequent research on neurodevelopment aspects of reward process in relationship to the psychological consequences of maltreatment. These findings may be relevant to the development of treatment plans for maltreated children, particularly those with depression. The study used a computerized two-choice decisionmaking task that involved various probabilities for obtaining money. The researchers examined the children's choices in terms of associated risk of winning or losing and the speed with which the choices were made, along with their emotional responses to rewards. The study involved 38 maltreated children and 21 demographically matched nonmaltreated children. All of the children were between 8 and 14 years old. 1 table, 3 figures, and 44 references