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Chapter 19 - Assessing the effects of early and later childhood trauma in adults

from Section 3 - Clinical perspectives: assessment and treatment of trauma spectrum disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

Ruth A. Lanius
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario
Eric Vermetten
Affiliation:
Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
Clare Pain
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Summary

This chapter reviews the impacts of childhood trauma, and describes the various assessment methodologies that may be helpful in evaluating such effects. Adult symptoms associated with childhood sexual, physical and psychological abuse include a number of difficulties. These include anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociation, cognitive distortions such as low self-esteem or self-blame, somatization, sexual concerns or conflicts, suicidality and substance abuse or dependence. Early abuse and neglect appear to be significant risk factors for disrupted parent-child attachment and, as a result, the development of a wide variety of symptoms and problems that traditionally have not been viewed as particularly trauma related. In order for treatment to be effectively targeted, the clinician must correctly assess the pychological impacts involved, generally by administering the appropriate psychological tests and interpreting them based on the current complex trauma literature.
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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