The Enduring Effects of Adolescent Stress on Adult Anxiety-like and Depression-like Behaviours: A Meta-analysis of the Rodent Literature
Loading...
Authors
Littler, Emma
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
meta-analysis , adolescent stress , rodent research , anxiety-like behaviour , depression-like behaviour , social isolation , social defeat , social instability , heterotypic , homotypic , predator exposure , chronic mild stress , chronic variable stress , rat , mice
Alternative Title
Abstract
In humans, exposure to stressful life events during adolescence is an established risk factor for the development of affective disorders in adulthood. However, the current rodent literature aiming to model this phenomenon has produced inconsistent results. To address this issue, I conducted a series of meta-analyses examining the long-lasting impact of adolescent stress on adult anxiety- and depression-like behaviour in rodents. I conducted a systematic literature search for articles that met my predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Specifically, I included studies that applied stress during adolescence (i.e., postnatal day (PD) 21-60) and reported outcomes from measures of anxiety-like behaviour and depression-like behaviour. A total of 124 studies were eligible for inclusion and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated for each measure of behaviour. I estimated the overall effects of adolescent stress on adult behaviour using a series of random-effects meta-analyses and explored sources of heterogeneity in the data with subgroup analyses according to species, sex, stressor type and age at stress. The results indicated that prior stress increased anxiety-like and depression-like behaviour in rodents. Within species, mice appeared to be more sensitive to the long-lasting effects of stress. There were significant sex differences in the expression of anxiety-like behaviour following stress, but almost identical effects across the sexes in the measures of depression-like behaviour. Heterotypic stress led to the most consistent increases in anxiety-like behaviour and was the only stressor type to increase depression-like behaviour. Finally, the long- lasting effects of adolescent stress appeared to be differentially modulated by the timing of the stress experience. In conclusion, these findings suggest that adolescent stress induces long- lasting changes in affective behaviour. Future research should explore how various factors might modulate the lasting outcomes of stress experienced during this period.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.