Childhood trauma is defined as a series of traumatic events that occur during childhood. Children may encounter a variety of psychological traumas, including neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and physical abuse, witnessing abuse of a sibling or parent, or having a parent who is mentally ill. These occurrences have significant psychological, physiological, and societal consequences, as well as long-term detrimental repercussions on health and well-being, such as antisocial conduct, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and sleep disruptions. Children whose moms have gone through traumatic or stressful situations during pregnancy are also at a higher risk of developing mental health problems and other neurodevelopmental issues.

As the frequency of negative events rises, so does the chance of issues from childhood through maturity. Childhood trauma can raise the chance of mental problems such as PTSD, relationship troubles, depression, and substance misuse. Alterations in brain functioning throughout sensitive and essential phases of infant development can be adaptable to a hostile environment but difficult to adjust to more benign environments. Anxiety, worry, humiliation, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, grief, sadness, and rage that began with a childhood trauma might persist as an adult.

Those who have experienced trauma as a child are also more prone to develop anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation and self-harm PTSD, drug and alcohol abuse, and marital problems. The emotional ramifications of childhood trauma aren't the only ones. Childhood trauma survivors are also more likely to acquire asthma, coronary heart disease, diabetes, or have a stroke. They're also more likely to have a "heightened stress response," which can make it difficult to manage emotions, cause sleep problems, reduce immune function, and increase the risk of a variety of medical disorders later in life.

Childhood trauma has health consequences that can be reduced with proper care and treatment. Childhood trauma can be treated in a variety of ways, including psychosocial and pharmaceutical approaches. Psychosocial treatments can be directed at specific individuals, such as psychotherapy, or they can be directed at larger groups, such as school-wide interventions. While studies have indicated that a variety of treatments are beneficial in treating childhood trauma, trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy may be the most successful. In other trials, however, pharmacologic interventions have been proven to be less successful than psychosocial therapy in the treatment of childhood trauma. Finally, early intervention can help to mitigate the unfavorable health consequences of childhood trauma.

With Regards,
Joseph Kent
Journal Manager
Journal of Trauma & Orthopaedic Nursing