The lasting effects of childhood trauma on mental health in adulthood: Current knowledge and practical next steps for clinical practice

Date

2016

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

UBCMJ

Abstract

Childhood trauma broadly refers to exposures to traumatic events in childhood, such as being abused or neglected by a parent or guardian, surviving a natural disaster or an act of terrorism, or witnessing the loss of a loved one. While broadly referring to traumatic experiences at any point of childhood and adolescence (i.e., under 18 years of age), the onset of childhood trauma occurs in younger years (i.e., 0-9 years old) for many individuals who experience it. Specifically, complex childhood trauma, the focus of this paper, refers to the types of traumatic exposures that tend to be experienced together and cumulatively over the course of childhood, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, physical and emotional neglect, and exposure to domestic violence.1 Approximately one in three Canadians has a history of experiencing at least one form of childhood trauma, with the most frequently reported trauma being exposure to domestic violence. As the subject of an emerging and quickly evolving field of research within neurosciences, social epidemiology, and medicine, we are beginning to understand the high prevalence of childhood trauma and its potentially detrimental effects. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, research, International Resources, Canada, poly-victimization, long term effects, psychological effects, summary, clinical implications

Citation

Lake, Stephani. (2016). The lasting effects of childhood trauma on mental health in adulthood: Current knowledge and practical next steps for clinical practice. UBCMJ, 8(1), 46-47.

DOI