Following a biopsychosocial perspective this intervention report will focus on an integrative life-course approach to reducing the impact of childhood traumatic stress, paying particular attention to the correlation between psychological trauma and later physiological health. Emphasis will be placed upon the continued development and research into alternative and holistic therapies that may help address the pervasive and complex long-term effects that childhood trauma has upon an individual’s later life; which is perhaps not adequately addressed by traditional psychodynamic therapies. Most frequently cited treatments for trauma typically utilise talking therapies which predominantly concentrate upon the psychological imprint of trauma, but
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Herman found that the post-traumatic effects of trauma such as child abuse are significantly and clinically different in nature from PTSD as defined in the DSM-5. Complex trauma can be defined as repetitive and cumulative; most commonly experienced within an organised or specific environment (Courtois, 2008), typically a primary care setting. An insidious form of trauma that changes an individual deeply, as early developmental senses of self and safety are significantly compromised. Healing from early accumulative trauma – as opposed to single-incident – is more problematic as there may never have been the opportunity to build resilience or coping resources preceding trauma. In short therapy entails dismantling multi-layers of trauma; how the individual has been affected which necessitates the establishment of …show more content…
Research into trauma biology has pointed to changes in limbic system functioning (Uddin, Amstadter, Nugent & Koenen, 2012). Additional findings in developmental psychobiology suggest that early trauma produces enduring negative effects on brain development (Bellis, 2002; Teicher, 2002). This can be explained by the overuse of stress hormones and disruption in neurotransmitters (e.g. cortisol and dopamine) causing an escalation in the stress response. Consistently elevated stress hormones can lead to attention and memory deficits, mood and sleep disorders which increase vulnerability to many long-term illnesses through ‘allostatic overload’ (McEwen,
Herman found that the post-traumatic effects of trauma such as child abuse are significantly and clinically different in nature from PTSD as defined in the DSM-5. Complex trauma can be defined as repetitive and cumulative; most commonly experienced within an organised or specific environment (Courtois, 2008), typically a primary care setting. An insidious form of trauma that changes an individual deeply, as early developmental senses of self and safety are significantly compromised. Healing from early accumulative trauma – as opposed to single-incident – is more problematic as there may never have been the opportunity to build resilience or coping resources preceding trauma. In short therapy entails dismantling multi-layers of trauma; how the individual has been affected which necessitates the establishment of …show more content…
Research into trauma biology has pointed to changes in limbic system functioning (Uddin, Amstadter, Nugent & Koenen, 2012). Additional findings in developmental psychobiology suggest that early trauma produces enduring negative effects on brain development (Bellis, 2002; Teicher, 2002). This can be explained by the overuse of stress hormones and disruption in neurotransmitters (e.g. cortisol and dopamine) causing an escalation in the stress response. Consistently elevated stress hormones can lead to attention and memory deficits, mood and sleep disorders which increase vulnerability to many long-term illnesses through ‘allostatic overload’ (McEwen,