Using social risk factors to predict allostatic biotypes of depression: A latent profile and multinomial regression analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Major depression is often difficult to treat, particularly among individuals exposed to psychosocial risks like childhood maltreatment, loneliness, and recent stress. These experiences may lead to biological dysregulation consistent with allostatic load theory. This study explored whether distinct biological profiles among adults with depression are associated with specific psychosocial and health-related factors.

METHOD: Data were drawn from the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS), including 367 participants with clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16). Latent profile analysis identified biological profiles based on 23 biomarkers across seven systems: inflammation, glucose, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, HPA-axis, cardiovascular, and lipids. Multinomial regression models examined associations between profile membership and psychosocial (childhood maltreatment, loneliness, recent stress), health (alcohol use, smoking, exercise), and demographic variables (sex, race/ethnicity, age, education).

RESULTS

A five-profile solution best fit the data: High Inflammation & Glucose (n = 74), Low PNS (n = 83), High PNS (n = 73), Healthy Depression (n = 67), and High HPA-Axis (n = 70). Childhood maltreatment significantly predicted membership in the High Inflammation & Glucose and Low PNS profiles compared to the Healthy Depression group, even after controlling for health behaviors and demographics. Loneliness and recent stress were not significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

Childhood maltreatment is a predictor of biological dysregulation in depression, differentially predicting profiles characterized by inflammatory and metabolic vs parasympathetic functioning. These may represent different vulnerability pathways from social experiences to depressive illness. Incorporating measurement strategies specific to these pathways may aide in selecting treatment options for people who have depression and a history of childhood maltreatment.