Childhood Trauma and Symptoms of Psychological Disorders Essay examples

Terr, L. C. (1991). Childhood traumas: an outline and overview. Am J Psychiatry, 1, 48.

This shows the relationship between traumatic events, psychotic disorders, and the existence of PTSD in those clients (Putts, 2014, p.83). The percentage of sexual and or physical abuse among clients with more than 10 hospitalization and 11 psychotic episodes are even greater. According to Putts (2014), 40% of those clients suffered sexual abuse and 60% suffered physical assault by a relative (p.83). Putts expressed his concern with the clinicians’ lack of recognition of the relationship between trauma and psychotic disorders, and how this contributes to the lack of diagnosis of PTSD in this population (Putts, 2014, p.83).

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic

This prevalence rate is considerably higher than that of the general population, therefore confirming the theory that trauma occurring in childhood has the ability to play a significant role in the development of mental illness. In addition to broad and generalized findings, they also found specific age groups to be related to specific forms of trauma in terms of what can result in the most detrimental effects. In relation to emotional abuse, it is considered most damaging at ages 6, 14, and 16. Sexual abuse is most harmful at age 12. Non-verbal abuse was found to be more detrimental at age 14 (Schalinksi, 2016). All of these findings also proved to be predictive of the development of PTSD as well as other mental illnesses, such as

Sixty percent of adults report experiencing abuse or other difficult family circumstances during childhood. (Mental Health Connection, N.D.). This shocking statistic exemplifies the high prevalence of childhood trauma. Furthermore, twenty-six percent of children in the United States will witness or experience a traumatic event before the age of four. (Mental Health Connection, N.D.) Trauma is an extremely common and complex phenomenon. But what is trauma? According to Merriam Webster, trauma is defined as, “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury.” (Merriam Webster, 2017). Dr. Lenore C. Terr from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of America further describes trauma as unique to each individual. It can be caused by a series of events or one severe incident. Unfortunately, childhood trauma is usually experienced repeatedly. For example, many children endure sexual abuse, bullying, and severe family problems over and over again. Children may experience a variety of traumas that have lasting consequences on their mental health. Those who experience childhood trauma are more likely to develop psychological disorders. This occurs because their brains lack neuroplasticity, which inhibits their ability to adapt to various stressful circumstances.

deal with it in a way that works for them. To refer to the “Myths of

“American Psychiatric Association defines trauma as an event that represents a threat to life or personal integrity. Trauma can also be experienced when children are faced with a caregiver who acts erratically, emotional and /or physical neglect, and exploitation” (Maltby, L., & Hall, T. 2012. p. 304). Trauma comes in many different forms including: war, rape, kidnapping, abuse, sudden injury, and

The effects of trauma can be looked at into two separate categories however, they both are interrelated: neurodevelopment and psychosocial development. From the onset of birth, we are born with 100 billion neurons, much more than we will ever need and much more than we will ever have. Between these neurons, trillions of synapses are created. Depending upon the early life experiences in relation to attachments with caregivers and our environment, some synapses will be strengthened whilst others will be discarded.

Fisher, H., Tobitt, S., Saleem, S. and Steele, S. (2004a) Siblings’ and mothers’ grief reactions to the diagnosis of psychosis in a young family member.

The pervasiveness of these correlations is high and suggesting childhood trauma could play a major role in the psychological health of a person later in adulthood, and there have many studies which have been conducted that could support these theories.

Over the past decade, investigators worldwide have been utilizing the “clinical high risk (CHR)” paradigm to identify adolescents and young adults at increased imminent risk for developing psychosis. Increased recognition of the CHR and early psychosis period has further led to the consideration of the attenuated psychosis syndrome specification under the Other Specified Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder section in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5th edition (DSM-5). Researchers have previously defined childhood trauma as any emotional neglect, or psychological, physical, emotional or sexual abuse occurring before the age of 17 years old (Bernstein et al., 2003; Kraan et al., 2015). While a wealth of data has demonstrated indirect associations between childhood trauma (CT) and psychosis in adulthood (cite reviews), prospective longitudinal studies of individuals with the CHR syndrome provide a unique opportunity to examine potential risk factors, resilience factors and underlying mechanisms that may link psychosis and CT. This population provides a critical window into the development of psychosis prior to the concomitant effects of chronic exposure to antipsychotic medications, substance use, isolation and social impoverishment that can accompany psychotic disorders, as well as the trauma often experienced from psychotic episodes themselves, trauma related to involuntary hospitalizations, and higher rates of victimization and

Childhood trauma is one of the most heartbreaking situations to ever fathom happening. Childhood trauma includes neglect, maltreatment, physical and emotional abuse, and many other forms of mistreatment amongst children. Childhood trauma occurs between the ages of 0 and 6 years of age. When referencing to childhood trauma, one must take thought into who commits the abuse, who is affected by the abuse, and what long term effects can the abuse have on the victims. One must also take into consideration the sex differences when referring to childhood trauma. Numerous of studies have been conducted and many findings have been made. Prior to conducting this research paper, I only considered childhood trauma to be what it was and never considered the long term effects. Because of my assumption, I never even considered the other categories of the trauma.

The key concept of this literature review is to better understand how childhood trauma is associated with mental health, such as post-traumatic stress disorder

Research shows that many brain and hormonal changes may occur as a result of early, prolonged trauma, and contribute to troubles with learning, memory, and regulating emotions. Combined with a disruptive, abusive home environment, these brain and hormonal changes may contribute to severe behavioral difficulties (“Post-Traumatic” 1).

There are many types of trauma that can effect an adolescent and without the proper treatment of the traumatic event the adolescent can have difficulty adapting and developing into adulthood. Kathleen J. Moroz, of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, defines trauma as a physical or psychological threat or assault to a child’s physical integrity, sense of self, safety of survival or to the physical safety of another person significant to the child. She goes on to list the types of trauma a child may be exposed to. Abuse of every kind, domestic violence, natural disasters, abandonment, serious illness or an accident are just a few traumatic events that can effect the development of a child. (2) When these events occur as an acute event