By Erin Blakemore, NPR
When public health officials get wind of an outbreak of Hepatitis A or influenza, they spring into action with public awareness campaigns, monitoring and outreach. But should they be acting with equal urgency when it comes to childhood trauma?
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests the answer should be yes. It shows how the effects of childhood trauma persist and are linked to mental illness and addiction in adulthood. And, researchers say, it suggests that it might be more effective to approach trauma as a public health crisis than to limit treatment to individuals.
The study drew on the experiences of participants from the Great Smoky Mountains Study, which followed 1,420 children from mostly rural parts of western North Carolina, over a period of 22 years. They were interviewed annually during their childhood, then four additional times during adulthood.
Share This Post!
Adults With a History of Childhood Trauma Can Benefit From Recommended Depression Treatments, Contrary to Current Theory
The Lancet Psychiatry, neurosciencenews.com Patients with major depressive disorder who experienced trauma during childhood see symptom improvement following psychopharmacological intervention, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. The results of a new [...]
Post-Traumatic Growth: What You Need to Know
by Nicole McDermott Trauma—either as a one-time event or prolonged exposure— can cause a wide range of mental health issues including flashbacks, sleep disturbances, anxiety, grief and substance misuse. Healing from [...]
PTSD and Suicide After Natural Disasters
by César A. Alfonso, MD Everyone in Puerto Rico (PR) was affected by Hurricane Maria, which made landfall on September 20, 2017 as the largest scale natural disaster in the US [...]
Behavioral Health Conditions in Children and Youth Exposed to Natural Disasters
Supplemental Research Bulletin, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration This Supplemental Research Bulletin focuses on mental health and substance use (behavioral health) conditions in children and adolescents following exposure to [...]
Many Refugees Dealing with Trauma Face Obstacles to Mental Health Care
By Erica Zurek and Alander Rocha Refugees are arriving in the U.S. in greater numbers this year after resettlement counts reached a 40-year low under President Donald Trump. These new arrivals, like [...]
The Dangerous Impact of Racial Trauma on the Black Community
By Maia Niguel Hoskin Psychologists use the term trauma to describe an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Racial trauma, or race-based traumatic stress, [...]