Neurobiology of childhood trauma and its implications for therapy

Pages: 849-853
Mrinalini Mahajan (School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, Maharashtra)

Childhood trauma is a widely prevalent phenomenon often neglected due to the taboos attached to it. Yet its consequences for the development of the individual cannot be ignored. Children with histories of adverse childhood trauma tend to display complex disturbances with varied individualized presentation due to developmental delays across a broad range including but not only limited to cognitive, language, motor and socialization skills. The significance of the presentation of these responses for therapy is highlighted here. The aim is to review current literature on the neurobiology of childhood trauma and its implications for therapy. The keywords such as Neurobiology of trauma, prevalence, the adverse childhood experience studies, and recent advances in trauma based therapy were entered into search engines such as Google search, Pubmed. Over 40 accessible full length articles were reviewed. The key findings suggested that trauma at different stages in childhood leads to adverse effects in the developmental process of the individual. Children with background of trauma are unable to capitalize on opportunities for socio-emotional learning during the critical periods of brain development. Severe trauma originating in the childhood has the ability to override any genetic, constitutional, social and psychological factor contributing to resilience due to its ability to alter biological stress systems. Experience of childhood trauma has the capacity to severely impact the physiological and psychological functioning of the individual.. Thus there is a need to integrate and individualize therapeutic interventions to help individuals overcome their traumatic past.