Why Look At The Effects Of Trauma?

What are the affects?
What can we do to help?
What if we do nothing?

Summary

Indications of the Problem

Child Protection Registers YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2002: 2,018 Children (0-15 yrs / 2.1 per 1000) (Scottish Executive)

Year ended 31st March 2001: 26,840 –England, 2,126 –Wales, 1,414 –Northern Ireland (Department of Heath)

Why Study Trauma?

Numerous studies link trauma and criminal behaviour.

Mann (1995) - Found 74% of a small sample of adolescents offenders held with secure conditions were experiencing symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Dissociation is a common component of the complex trauma response (van der Kolk et al., 1996) Boswell (1995) - Amongst those committing the most serious of crimes, over 90% experienced childhood trauma in the form of abuse and / or loss and frequently both. Burgess et al (1987) - found a link between sexual abuse and the occurrence of drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and criminal behaviour a few years later.

Steiner et al found 32% of incarcerated juvenile delinquents met the criteria for current PTSD, and - For 5% of the sample the symptoms of PTSD resulted from the violence they perpetrated on others. Dissociation may mediate the cycle of violence. research indicates pathological dissociation in adolescent offenders 14.3 – 28.3 % (Markowitz, 2004)

What inference might we make from the following research on the needs of looked after children?

• 45% were assessed as having a mental disorder
• 38% had clinically significant conduct disorders
• 16% were assessed as having emotional disorders –anxiety and depression
• 10% were rated as hyperactive

(Meltzer et al, 2004) Scottish Executive study

The Truth?

These mental health indicators are symptoms relating to complex trauma and dissociative disorders (Terr, 1991; Putman, 1993).

All truth passes through three stages.

First, it is ridiculed. Second, it’s violently opposed. Third, it’s accepted as self-evident.

(Schopenhauer, 2006)

For many centuries various theorists and clinicians have postulated about the psychological and emotional distress observed in children and some began to attribute some of the causes to early childhood experiences of neglect and trauma. This notion and sense of truth. could be viewed as going through a process of being ridiculed and violently opposed, but recent there appears to have been an tidal change in that society is more able overcome the defensive reactions to such notions to begin to develop appropriate support and services for survivors e.g. Scottish National Strategy for Survivors of sexual abuse.

The 5 Symptoms Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) In Children

Re-experiencing the trauma in various ways Numbing of responsiveness and avoidance of reminders of the trauma Hyper-arousal Development of NEW fears that weren’t present before the trauma Development of aggressive behaviour that wasn’t present before the trauma Trauma Symptoms and Conduct Disorder Aggression, Impulsivity, Impaired, empathy, Anger, Disregard for the future, Substance abuse, Risk-seeking behaviour, Reactivity

Do you only see the behaviour?

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