Abstract :
A core set of psychological and biological responses can be found in children, adolescents and adult following major stressor events such as: maltreatment, rape, war and civil strife, accidents and injuries, witnessed violence, and natural disasters. The degree and behavioral manifestations of post-traumatic symptoms, e.g., hyperarousal, emotional numbing, intrusive imagery and avoidant behaviors, vary with age/developmental stage. Formal diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by DSM criteria is often not possible for younger age groups, although they usually manifest subsets of serious PTSD symptoms. Stress and trauma during childhood frequently interfere with core developmental tasks including: formation of stable attachments, acquisition of affect regulation, development and integration of self concepts and socialization. It is believed that stress-sensitive “critical periods” for psychological and biological development occur during early childhood. Traumatic experiences during these critical periods appear to alter the trajectories of important developmental tasks. Many adult psychopathological outcomes attributed to childhood traumatic experiences, e.g., borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorders, somatization, low self esteem, self-mutilation and suicidal behavior, can be understood in terms of traumatic disruptions in these developmental tasks. Studies find that a history of trauma in childhood is also a significant risk factor for the development of PTSD in adulthood following exposure to a new stressor. The interaction of developmental processes with psychobiological responses to stress and trauma provides an important model that informs both normal and psychopathological development.
