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Developmental Trauma

Developmental Trauma

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Description

Childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, is probably our nation’s single most important public health challenge, a challenge that has the potential to be largely resolved by appropriate prevention and intervention. Each year over 3,000,000 children are reported to the authorities for abuse and/or neglect in the United States of which about one million are substantiated1. Many thousands more undergo traumatic medical and surgical procedures, and are victims of accidents and of community violence (see Spinazzola et al, this issue). However, most trauma begins at home: the vast majority of people (about 80 %) responsible for child maltreatment are children’s own parents.

Inquiry into developmental mile-stones and family medical history is rou-tine in medical and psychiatric examinations. In contrast, social taboos prevent obtaining information about childhood trauma, abuse, neglect, and other exposures to violence. Research has shown that traumatic childhood experiences not only are extremely common but also have a profound impact on many differ-ent areas of functioning. For example, children exposed to alcoholic parents or domestic violence rarely have secure childhoods; their symptomatology tends to be pervasive and multifaceted and is likely to include depression, various medical illnesses, and a variety of impulsive and self-destructive behaviors. Approaching each of these problems piecemeal, rather than as expressions of a vast system of internal disorganization, runs the risk of losing sight of the forest in favor of one tree.

Source: https://traumacenter.net/uploads/3/4/9/8/34986682/annals_developmental_trauma.pdf

 

Experts

Featured Books:

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Videos:

Articles:

When Nowhere Is Safe: Interpersonal Trauma and Attachment Adversity as Antecedents of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Developmental Trauma Disorder

Developmental Trauma Disorder: A new, rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories.
Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD – The Trauma Center

Clinical Significance of a Proposed Developmental Trauma Diagnosis: Results of an International Survey of Clinicians
Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD – The Trauma Center

Understanding Interpersonal Trauma in Children: Why We Need a Developmentally Appropriate Trauma Diagnosis
Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD – The Trauma Center

Developmental Trauma: What you can’t see
Kathy Brous

Why my child with developmental trauma disorder acts differently with you than with me
Nichole Noonan, Institute for Attachment & Child Development

Research:

Organizations:

The Trauma Center – Integrating Science, Clinical Wisdom, and Innovation for Mental and Physical Health across the Lifespan

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

The Child Trauma Academy

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

In the News:

Additional Resources:

What is Developmental Trauma / ACEs? – Childhood Trauma Toolkit

 

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