The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID), and psychiatric comorbidity

In people with immune diseases, the immune system causes symptoms in different parts of the bodies. For example, in multiple sclerosis the brain is affected. People with immune diseases are more likely than people without immune diseases to experience depression or anxiety. We are still learning what causes immune diseases. We recently found that people with immune diseases experienced abuse during childhood more often than healthy people. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to abuse, neglect, and other situations like parental divorce or mental illness. ACEs may affect the immune system and how a person responds to stress. ACEs may also affect how the brain develops. We think this may increase the risk of having an immune disease or depression and anxiety. We will compare the rates of ACEs in people with immune diseases to that of people who have other chronic diseases, and who are healthy. We will also compare the rates of ACEs and psychiatric disorders among people with IMID.