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Individuals with paraphilic interests in sexual violence or children may be more likely to sexually offend if they possess offense-supportive cognitions. These cognitions may develop in response to childhood adversity. However, this idea is largely based on research in men convicted of sexual offenses and may not generalize to non-incarcerated adults with paraphilic interests. In a sample of 178 adults screened for paraphilic interests in violence or children (from the general Czech population), we hypothesized that childhood sexual abuse and emotional neglect would be associated with offense-supportive cognitions about rape and child molestation. Participants came from a nationally representative sample of Czech adults and were selected if they self-reported high levels of sexual interest in violence and/or children. Participants completed an online survey with self-report measures of sexual orientation, offense-supportive cognitions (Bumby RAPE and MOLEST scales), and childhood sexual abuse and emotional neglect (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire). Controlling for gender, age, and sexual orientation, we found that both rape-supportive cognitions and child molestation-supportive cognitions were significantly associated with higher levels of childhood sexual abuse, but not emotional neglect. These findings indicate that childhood sexual abuse may lead to offense-supportive cognitions among men and women with paraphilia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationship between depression and childhood traumas has been emphasized for many years. This study investigates the impact of childhood traumas on posttraumatic growth in patients with depression. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 participants who had experienced childhood trauma at least once in their lives (75 patients with depression and 45 healthy controls) were included in the study. Participants were administered sociodemographic information form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire 28 (CTQ-28) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Results: Childhood traumas and rates of posttraumat ic growth were high in both the patient and control groups, and there was no statistically significant difference between them. The statistical analysis revealed that participants in the depression group had significantly higher scores on the physical abuse subscale of the CTQ-28 compared to the control group. Furthermore, significant negative correlations were observed in the control group between physical abuse of the CTQ-28 and changes in relationships with others in the PTGI, as well as between sexual abuse of the CTQ-28 and changes in relationships with others in the PTGI. In the study, to be female and level of physical abuse were found to increase the likelihood of belonging to the depression group. Conclusion: This study found that childhood trauma associated with physical abuse was more frequent in patients with depression than controls. Traumatic experiences were found to be detrimental to communicating with others. It is appropriate to recommend int erventions for social support and for the treatment of traumatic experiences in childhood in a variety of contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Three studies examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and meaning in life, focusing on the facets of meaning—coherence, significance, and purpose. Method: In Study 1 (N = 1804), college students rated adverse childhood experiences, global meaning in life, and its facets. In Study 2 (N = 822), noncollege adults rated childhood trauma, meaning in life facets, attachment style, mood, and neuroticism. In Study 3 (N = 380) college students wrote about a positive and negative childhood memory, rating the facets of meaning immediately after each writing task. Results: In Studies 1–2, at the level of zero‐order correlations, adverse childhood experiences related negatively to coherence, significance, and purpose. Controlling for the other facets, adverse childhood experiences remained negatively related to coherence and significance but were unrelated to purpose. Negative relationships between adverse childhood experiences and coherence and significance maintained controlling for covariates (Study 2). In Study 3, the predicted 3‐way interaction showed that after recalling a negative childhood memory, adverse childhood experiences predicted lower significance and coherence but higher purpose. Conclusions: Adverse childhood experiences consistently predict lower feelings of coherence and significance but, accounting for these associations, are unrelated to purpose. Purpose may represent a motivational strength emerging out of childhood adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present a reading of child protection and welfare practice in the recent covid 19 pandemic, with reference to several popular concepts in social work. The focus is on the relevance of these concepts to the contemporary circumstances in which child protection and welfare social workers often now find themselves. The specific intention is to extract learning from four traditionally popular approaches in social work, namely, resilience-building, systems theory, ACES and trauma-informed approaches. This will be achieved by first introducing, and then explaining key ideas and conventions of each approach. Here, relevant and established literature will be referenced to inform explanations. As the utility of the systemic perspective for child protection work is already well established, the paper considers how this perspective can be extended to assist in work with children and young people in the pandemic who have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). In this paper, exploration of the detail of that extension lies in resilience building and trauma-informed practice. Whilst concepts of trauma-sensitivity and resilience are variously embedded in ACEs literature, their mutual treatment tends to be deficient in one regard. Specifically, these concepts are often not thought about in a systemic manner, necessitating the inclusion of a systemic lens. Overall, the case of child protection and welfare social work offers an important focus by which one might question the relevancy of these approaches to contemporary practice in a global pandemic. In concluding, the paper's core proposition is revisited. Specifically, it is argued that the focal approaches, traditionally popular in social work, remain both instrumental and imperative, for understanding the complexities of child protection and welfare unfolding in a global pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dans nos pratiques cliniques auprès d'enfants en situation de grande précarité physique et psychique, la dimension traumatique est souvent présente. Les situations de carences affectives précoces ou les vécus violents durant les premières années sont prégnantes et impactent leur construction psychique. La nécessité de la rencontre avec un « autre-Sujet », étayant et s'engageant dans la relation se retrouve dans l'accompagnement thérapeutique. Or, pour les enfants, c'est également dans ce lien que les vécus traumatiques trouvent leurs origines et sont à la source de la compulsion de répétition. Dans le cadre d'une recherche portant sur la mise en place et l'évaluation d'un dispositif thérapeutique au Cambodge, nous nous questionnons sur la tentative de remise au travail du lien primitif comme support d'une remise en mouvement psychique. Dix enfants accueillis au sein d'une ONG au Cambodge ont été suivis durant un an, au sein d'un dispositif thérapeutique pensé sur la base des médiations et avec le concours d'un interprète. Le recueil de données se constitue de notes d'observations en lien avec un travail commun d'élaboration du contre-transfert avec l'interprète. L'analyse s'effectue du côté des processus psychiques à l'aide de la grille EPE (évolution processus et enveloppes) permettant d'en saisir l'évolution. L'accent est mis sur le travail du lien au sein du dispositif thérapeutique par l'évolution de celui-ci et des processus psychiques en parallèle de l'élaboration contre-transférentielle. Par la présentation de deux situations cliniques, nous questionnerons les processus intersubjectifs en jeu tant dans les rencontres cliniques que dans le travail du lien primaire au sein des rencontres. Au début des rencontres, nous soulignons une entrave des processus psychiques. Pour les enfants, le tissage d'un lien se trouve entravé et source de reviviscences des traumatismes précoces, s'étant joués dans les liens primaires avec l'environnement. Les défenses sont érigées contre la possibilité d'être en lien et se trouvent dans un registre archaïque. En cela, le lien constitue l'origine de ce travail thérapeutique. Il va progressivement se tisser par l'investissement de l'interprète et du thérapeute qui est lui-même aux prises avec une situation d'expatriation. Pour les enfants, ces modalités de liens se rejouent dans la relation à leur environnement et sur la scène comportementale, mobilisant ainsi toute la scène intersubjective. Ce travail premier du lien soutient l'émergence de nouveaux processus psychiques. L'enjeu thérapeutique se retrouve sur la nécessité de mettre au travail les modalités de liens précoces qui se rejouent dans la relation thérapeutique. Ce travail du lien s'origine dans un investissement spécifique de l'interprète et du thérapeute au sein de la relation. Il permet une remobilisation psychique ouvrant sur des possibilités d'élaboration dans la relation avec l'environnement, sur la scène comportementale et intersubjective. In our clinical practice with children in very precarious physical and psychological situations, the traumatic dimension is often present. Early situations of emotional deprivation or violent experiences during the first years of life are prevalent and have an impact on their psychological construction. The need to meet with an "other-subject", supporting and engaging in the relationship, is found in therapeutic support. For children, it is also in this relationship that traumatic experiences find their origins and are at the source of the repetition compulsion. Within the framework of a research project on the implementation and evaluation of a therapeutic system in Cambodia, we question the attempt to put the primitive bond back to work as a support for a return to psychic movement. Ten children hosted by an NGO in Cambodia were followed for a year, within a therapeutic system designed on the basis of mediation and with the help of an interpreter. The data collection consisted of observation notes linked to a common work of elaboration of the counter-transference with the interpreter. The analysis is carried out on the side of the psychic processes with the help of the EPE grid (evolution of processes and envelopes) allowing to grasp their evolution. The emphasis is placed on the work of the link within the therapeutic device by the evolution of the latter and of the psychic processes in parallel with the counter-transferential elaboration. Through the presentation of two clinical situations, we questioned the intersubjective processes at play both in the clinical encounters and in the work of the primary link within the encounters. At the beginning of the encounters, we underlined a hindrance of the psychic processes. For the children, the weaving of a bond was hindered and was a source of reliving early traumas, having been played out in the primary links with the environment. The defenses were erected against the possibility of being linked and were found in an archaic register. In this respect, the link constituted the origin of this therapeutic work. It was gradually woven through the investment of the interpreter and the therapist who was himself in a situation of expatriation. For the children, these forms of connection were replayed in their relationship with their environment and on the behavioral stage, thus mobilizing the entire intersubjective stage. This primary work of the link supported the emergence of new psychic processes. The therapeutic issue is the need to work on the modalities of early links that are replayed in the therapeutic relationship. This work on the link originates in a specific investment of the interpreter and the therapist within the relationship. It allows a psychic remobilization opening up possibilities of elaboration in the relationship with the environment, on the behavioral and intersubjective scene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to explore the relationships between attachment and childhood trauma on recidivism risk in a sample of Canadian offenders with mental disorder (OMDs). N = 56 OMDs completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, a measure of adult attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships Scale), and interview to determine recidivism risk (Level of Service/Case Management Inventory; LS/CMI). The variables of interest had small to moderate correlations. Multivariable regression analysis found that ACE scores but not attachment insecurity were associated with LS/CMI scores. Mediation analyses demonstrated that ACE scores fully mediated the association between attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance and recidivism risk. Results demonstrate that as exposure to diverse ACEs increased so did the risk to recidivate and this exposure mediated the relationship between attachment insecurity and recidivism risk. This study highlights the necessity of addressing both attachment insecurity and the experience of ACE when providing psychiatric services to OMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes improvement of mental health care for detained unaccompanied minors through a best interests of the child standard that promotes healing and avoidance of retraumatization. Topics discussed include deliberate indifference standard in the cases A.M. v. Luzerne County Juvenile Detention Center and Doe 4 v. Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center Commission, impact of detention or incarceration on juvenile mental health, and substantial departure from professional judgment standard.

Traumatic experiences are destructive experiences that affect individuals in their adulthood, damaging their sense of trust towards themselves, the world and other people, leading them to despair. This study aims to test the effect of childhood traumatic experiences on attachment styles in adulthood and to find out what kind of traumatic experiences explain the attachment styles to what extent. Relational survey method was used in the research and the data were analysed with structural equation modelling. The study group is 804 students aged 17-24. For data collection, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire developed by Bernstein et al. (1997) and Relationship Scales Questionnaire developed by Griffin and Bartholomew (1994) were used. The study has concluded that traumatic experiences have a negative and significant effect on secure attachment and a positive effect on fearful and preoccupied attachment, but they are not a significant predictor of dismissing attachment. As a result of the second model of the relationship between traumatic experiences and secure and insecure attachment dimensions, traumatic experiences have been found to have a negative significant effect on secure attachment but a positive significant effect on insecure attachment With the third model, three types of traumatic experiences have been examined to explain the attachment styles. Physical, emotional neglect and abuse, and sexual abuse have predicted secure attachment in a negative significant way and insecure attachment style in a positive significant way. The study revealed the effect of childhood traumatic experiences on attachment styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological trauma occurs when a person suffers from serious threat or loss to his/her life. Childhood psychological trauma can be of various forms such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect. Such adverse childhood experiences, if not effectively dealt or resolved, may lead to the development of drug dependence including alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) in adult life. In many cases, development of ADS is preceded by the occurrence of childhood psychological trauma(s). Such a person with a history of childhood psychological traumas may consume alcohol to cope with his/her trauma-related distress. Alexithymia is a state characterized by a triad of difficulty in identifying one’s own feelings, difficulty in differentiating between physical sensations and emotional arousal, and difficulty in explaining one’s own feelings to others. Alexithymia has a role in the development of drug dependence including ADS. The number of childhood psychological trauma among persons with ADS was associated with alexithymia in adulthood. Childhood psychological traumas, mainly emotional abuse, might act as a predisposing factor for the development of alexithymia in persons suffering from ADS. This case series presented clinical picture of two individuals with ADS in which both childhood psychological trauma(s) and alexithymia were assessed by using standard and psychometrically valid psychological tools such as Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 item, respectively. This case series is unique because the assessment of childhood psychological trauma(s) and alexithymia is neglected area in Indian psychiatric research field and detailed ample of literature is not available at present in which the relationship between childhood psychological traumas, alexithymia, and ADS has been assessed. In the present case series, first individual with ADS had clinically significant alexithymia, severe emotional abuse, severe emotional neglect, moderate physical abuse, and moderate physical neglect, while second individual with ADS had no alexithymia but he had moderate-level emotional neglect and mild levels of emotional abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an exploration of the notion of trauma, viewing it as an 'elastic' concept that has changed over time within psychoanalytic theory, including in child psychotherapy. There is an argument for a multi-faceted, developmental, individual way of viewing trauma, taking into account contemporary knowledge about psychic trauma while at the same time not losing sight of some psychoanalytic ideas that were central in the formation of the term. This paper argues for the importance of reclaiming and holding onto certain Freudian elements of what trauma means, including the idea that structural/ontological trauma in the course of human life is necessary and developmentally important, and is differentiated from historical trauma, which is linked to a particular event. These different ways of thinking about trauma are explored through presenting the work of French child psychoanalyst Françoise Dolto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cluster B personality disorder traits and positive psychological change, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG), are both possible outcomes following childhood trauma. However, existing research has not yet explored whether emotion regulation difficulties can simultaneously explain these negative and positive changes.Method: A sample of childhood trauma survivors (N = 223) provided responses to an online survey, with findings assessed using structural equation modeling techniques.Results: Emotion regulation difficulties were found to mediate between childhood trauma severity and cluster B traits (abcs = -.05), and between childhood trauma severity and PTG (abcs = .13), with small to medium indirect effects. The final model accounted for more variance in cluster B traits (56%) than PTG (10%).Conclusions: Emotion regulation is therefore a key mediator of positive and negative psychological changes and should be the focus of intervention efforts among childhood trauma survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the trauma perpetrated by racial discrimination in the U.S. criminal justice system in light of the story of police brutality experienced by hip hop artist Meek Mill. Topics discussed include the role of childhood adversity and trauma in negative health outcomes in adulthood, the need for exposure to U.S. policing and its courts to be qualified as an adverse childhood experience for African and minority children, and efforts of Meek to work for criminal justice reforms.

Children involved in the foster care system are at risk of experiencing traumatic events, which can lead to negative outcomes for youth. Child welfare service providers are tasked with providing trauma-responsive services to youth in foster care; yet, the trauma-related needs of youth are often under-identified and undertreated. This study's purpose was to examine the initial implementation of a trauma-responsive approach from the perspective of frontline child welfare workers and trainers. We sought to further knowledge on how the competency drivers of staff selection/hiring, training, coaching, and fidelity facilitate or inhibit initial implementation. We conducted focus groups with workers (n = 28) and semi-structured interviews with trainers (n = 6) implementing a new trauma-responsive assessment and case planning approach. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Using competency drivers as a guide, several facilitators and barriers were identified. Overall, workers and trainers identified each of the four competency drivers as key to the uptake of the new practice approach. Our findings highlight the need for agencies implementing new practices to provide critical supports to frontline workers during implementation, such as specialized support positions and mechanisms for structure and accountability, and emphasize the importance of post-training support (e.g., coaching). Highlights: This study examined the initial implementation of a trauma-responsive assessment and case planning approach from the perspective of frontline child welfare workers and trainers. Participants identified the competency drivers of staff selection/hiring, training, coaching, and fidelity as important to implementation. Interactive, hands-on trainings aided in workers learning the new trauma-responsive approach. Participants desired follow up post-training, including guidance for applying the new approach, identifying "go-to people" for ongoing support; and workers indicated supervisors play a key role in the uptake of a new practice. While participants identified the trauma-responsive assessment and case planning approach as beneficial for children and families, workers felt overwhelmed by their workload, which limited their abilities to implement the new practice to fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative physical and mental health outcomes is well established (Felitti et al. [1998]. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258). While awareness of the long-term effects of experiencing childhood abuse and neglect has increased, much less is known about how ACEs impact parenting, and children's social and emotional development. The current study has two objectives (1) to examine the relationship between ACE scores (N = 52) and children's social and emotional problems in a sample of low-income mothers and their young children and (2) to examine maternal depression, perceived social support, and parenting self-efficacy as possible mediators of that relationship. Indirect effects were significant for self-efficacy, B =.342, 95% CI [.010,.886] and marginally significant for maternal depression mediating the relationship between ACEs and child social and emotional problems. Findings suggest that one-way mothers' early adversity affects their children's development is through its effects on maternal mental health and parenting confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a small cohort of traumatised adopted children whose fear of separation from parents, and fear of hostility and rejection from the therapist, prevent them from being able to make use of the therapist's thoughts and words. Some children are in such heightened states of alarm and dissociation that they are unable to play. This personal account of clinical development recounts growing awareness of the extent to which some highly traumatised children's mentalizing capacity in therapy is dependent on their neurophysiological regulation. Therapy with such children must therefore begin by attending to the alarmed body, triggered by the anticipation of what is termed 'relational trauma'. Moving beyond psychoanalytic and attachment theory to draw on ethological studies, relational trauma behaviour can be understood as a symptom of humans in agonic mode; this is a group behaviour mode observed in higher primate troops when they are experiencing compromised resource acquisition and stress. Such troops organise themselves in relations of dominance and appeasement that are aggressively enforced and resemble disorganised attachment behaviours. Fear-infused relationships are designed to reduce uncertainty and increase intra-group predictability. Parent-child homeostasis therefore needs to be understood within its familial, historical, geo-political and socio-economic context. Helping traumatised families move from agonic to benign hedonic mode arguably requires the double task of reducing environmental stressors and transforming fear-fuelled hostile-helpless relations into those of mutuality, reciprocity and understanding. This paper argues that such support involves a form of social activism on the one hand, and recognition and acceptance that the subject of therapy is primarily the parent(s)-child dyad, on the other. Any effective therapy must address trauma triggers in all subjects. Finally, some novel ways of transforming hostile-helpless behaviours into safe nurturing reciprocal interactions are suggested, with clinical illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The child welfare system (CWS) works diligently to assess safety and build supports for millions of youth and families every year. In Colorado, seven counties formed the Colorado Child Welfare Resiliency Project (CWRP) and over the last five years have completed over 3,000 trauma screens and 800 trauma assessments. The initial evidence from this project suggests that the trauma screening and assessment practices hold promise in contributing to positive outcomes for youth involved in CWS in Colorado, especially regarding congregate care placements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article analyzes the role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in addressing childhood trauma and its impact on hip hop population.

Despite the prevalence of trauma among children in foster care, child welfare agencies rarely screen for a history of trauma exposure and associated symptoms. This study aimed to examine (1) the adherence to the universal implementation of trauma and mental health screening in urban Treatment Foster Care programs and (2) the changes in children’s mental health and trauma symptom screening scores in agencies participating in a broad range of trauma-informed activities. Overall, the screening rates in this study were low, reflecting challenges that should be considered by foster programs looking to implement trauma screening protocols. However, changes in mental health and trauma symptom scores were observed among children in participating agencies, suggesting the potential impact of trauma-informed care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remaining alert to ways we can improve our education practices is important for myriad reasons. Being able to respond effectively to the trauma that many children experience is one of the most pressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at how to address trauma in children through physical activity. The authors detail their experience working with youth in southeast Asia after the December 26, 2004 tsunami. The authors developed a program that used physical activity to help children confront the impact of the traumatic event. Four guidelines for physical educators addressing the needs of traumatized youth are presented, which include recognizing the signs of trauma, getting the right fit by understanding the cultural aspects of children's lives, empowering the children through physical activity, and seeking other support and aid.

Background: A large body of evidence has demonstrated that childhood trauma increases the risk for developing a psychotic disorder. However, the path by which psychotic symptoms develop following trauma is still debated. Emotional reactivity, a tendency to experience more intense and enduring emotional responses, and hallucinations are sequelae of childhood trauma that may predict the emergence of delusional ideation. This study aimed to examine evidence for this hypothesis in a college student sample. Methods: Self-report measures were used to crosssectionally assess childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), delusional ideation (Peters et al Delusions Inventory), hallucinations (Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale), and emotional reactivity (Emotion Reactivity Scale) in 1703 US college students. Results: Hallucinations and emotional reactivity fully mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and delusional ideation, after controlling for covariates (gender, age, levels of current stress, stressful life events, and resilience). Discussion: These results suggest that hallucinations and emotional reactivity associated with childhood trauma may represent quantifi- able targets for early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study showed that childhood trauma is common in the general population and has enduring effects on adult emotional and physical health. Levels of childhood adversity among individuals with a history of military service have been found to match or exceed those among individuals with no history of military service. Most studies to date have found that ACEs are associated with poorer mental health outcomes among service members and veterans, although the ways in which childhood adversity may contribute to vulnerability or resilience are not fully understood. Further, the prevalence of ACEs specifically among veterans has not been clearly established. We evaluated the prevalence of childhood adversity at a community-based outpatient mental health clinic within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and found that 85.0% of participating veterans reported experiencing at least one category of ACE before the age of 18, while nearly half of veteran participants (46.0%) reported experiencing four or more categories. We discuss the implications of a high burden of childhood adversity for neurobiological development and psychological functioning among veterans, and for mental health treatment within the VA. Further, we describe the development of a trauma-informed program which utilizes a phase-based, modular approach to better address the psychological sequelae of childhood adversity, and foster resilience and posttraumatic growth. Several case examples are discussed, along with recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how the Pennsylvania legislature can better support schools in the state to meet the needs of students with trauma. Topics include an overview of trauma and trauma-informed practices in the state, an evaluation of the ways schools address or ignore this problem in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, and examples of legislative efforts to address this societal problem in the state. Also cited is the failure of schools to implement the state Senate Bill 144 on traumatized students.

Cosmetic surgery is an interdisciplinary field involving cosmetics and medicine that stems from the early modern obsession with disfigurement. The "correcting" of facial features and body parts was very likely because beauty was at the heart of most reconstructive desires. Cosmetic surgery patients typically experience improvements in body image, and some are very satisfied with the impact of cosmetic surgery in changing their behaviors and improving self-esteem. The doctrine of mind–body connection supports the concept of healing the heart through the body. However, some people feel disgraced after revealing their experiences of cosmetic surgery. It is known that people who experience childhood psychological trauma, such as abuse and school bullying, may opt for cosmetic surgery later in life. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between childhood psychological trauma, cosmetic surgery, and body image. Three female adults who had undergone different types of cosmetic surgery completed the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS), the Fear of Negative Appearance Evaluation Scale (FNAES), and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), followed by semistructured face-to-face interviews. According to the results, 1) undergoing cosmetic surgery can enhance self-confidence, reduce body dissatisfaction, resolve inner conflicts, and somewhat relieve psychological distress; 2) self-esteem and body image obtained from cosmetic surgery can resolve the distressing aftereffects of childhood trauma that occur later in life; and 3) the perceived sense of beauty achieved from cosmetic surgery contributes to a certain degree of self-confidence in the short term and promotes appearance-enhancing behaviors while increasing the distress of others discovering their cosmetic surgery experiences. The implications of this study are that undergoing cosmetic surgery can have healing effects on childhood trauma; however, there are certain drawbacks that can occur, such as distress and an insatiable desire for or an "addiction" to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior researches have implicated a relationship of recidivism with childhood trauma (CT) and emotional intelligence (EI). However, the internal mechanism by which CT and EI influence the recidivism has not been examined. This study aimed to map the road from CT and EI to recidivism in Chinese male offenders. Three thousand one hundred and eighty-one Chinese adult male offenders participated in this study and completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). Recidivism was quantified by the number of convictions according to official records. After controlling for age, education levels, family criminal history, and nature of offence, logistic regression sanalysis was performed to examine the effects of CT and EI on severity of recidivism. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to explore the mediation model between CT, EI and recidivism. Logistic regression model shows a significant effect of CT (OR = 1.008, p < 0.01), rather than EI, on recidivism. SEM supported a full mediating effect of CT in the relationship between EI and severity of recidivism. Our findings suggest that EI has no direct effect on the recidivism, but exerts indirect influence on the recidivism through the mediating role of childhood trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this cross-sectional study, childhood traumas, attachment security and alexithymia in adolescents with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) were compared with those of adolescents without any psychiatric disorder using both semi-structured clinical interviews and self-report scales. Method: This study included 42 adolescents with PNES aged between 12-18 and 38 healthy adolescents who were matched with the study group with respect to socio-demographic variables. All adolescents and their parents were interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version in order to evaluate psychiatric disorders. All participants were tested by a clinician on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA) to assess the presence of PTSD symptoms, and subsequently they completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-28 (CTQ-28), short form of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES). Results: Adolescents with PNES had more emotional and traumatic sexual experiences and PTSD symptoms compared to the control group. PNES group perceived higher "communication" but lower "trust" in attachment relationships with their mothers and fathers. Increased alexithymia symptoms and lowered self-esteem were determined in the PNES group. Childhood traumas, lifetime PTSD symptoms and alexithymia were found to be significant risk factors for PNES in adolescents. Conclusion: Results indicate that comorbid psychiatric disorders, traumatic experiences, attachment problems and alexithymia need to be evaluated and treated in adolescents with PNES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention to the need for a trauma-informed systems approach to child well-being has grown in the past decade. Technology has the potential to improve how child welfare agencies implement trauma-informed systems reform. As new technological innovations emerge to support and sustain the implementation of trauma informed practices, broad dissemination is imperative (Breyette, 2014). This paper describes the rationale for and details of technological solutions supporting and sustaining the implementation of trauma-informed interventions in three states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impulsivity is a core feature of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is one of the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Impulsivity is also present in bipolar disorder (BD). Impulsivity has been linked to adverse behavior (suicidality,…) and to traumatic childhood experiences. Our study explored impulsivity in BPD, BD, ADHD and healthy controls (CTRL) and investigated the impact of early trauma on impulsivity.Methods: 744 patients with BD (n = 276), BPD (n = 168), ADHD (n = 173) or a combination (BPD_BD, n = 29; BPD_ADHD, n = 94, BD_BPD_ADHD n = 13) and 47 controls were included. All subjects were completed the Baratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-10) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).Results: BD reported the same levels of impulsiveness as CTRL. When BPD and BD are co-morbid, impulsivity increased to reach the level of BPD. Impulsiveness was significantly associated to traumatic childhood event for BD and CTRL, not for BPD and AHDH.Limitations: Impulsivity was assessed on the basis of a self-report questionnaire and not by the mean of an objective measure such as a neuropsychological test. Moreover, we don't know what treatment our pathological subjects were receiving. But, ADHD and BPD, despite the probable treatment, were more impulsive than healthy CTRLs who did not take medications.Conclusions: Impulsivity is probably not a feature of BD but is associated with the presence of traumatic childhood experiences, especially for euthymic patients, unlike BPD and ADHD. So, it seems essential to assess the presence of early trauma to reduce the impulsivity and improve the evolution of BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood adversity has been shown to exert profound effects on basic psychological processes well into adulthood. Some of these processes, such as those related to reward and emotion, play critical roles in moral decision-making. As a population with high rates of childhood trauma as well as heterogenous clinical presentation, individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) constitute an enriched group in which to examine the correlates of trauma and other clinical variables with moral cognition.Methods: 62 euthymic BD patients and 27 controls responded to moral dilemma scenarios and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.Results: Results revealed a main effect of diagnosis on moral decision-making only when both personal force and an intention were required, indicating a more utilitarian style in BD patients relative to controls. Several interesting patterns also emerged regardless of diagnostic status. Higher ratings of physical neglect were significantly associated with higher ratings of acceptability (a utilitarian tendency) across dilemma types, and a similar pattern was observed at the trend level for experiences of emotional neglect. Significant main effects on moral decision-making were also observed for sex, illness duration, and history of psychotic features in the BD sample.Limitations: The present study is limited by the self-reported nature of the CTQ and by the small number of trials of moral dilemmas. In addition, practical and clinical implications of the moral dilemmas paradigm are limited due to its abstract nature.Conclusions: Our results indicate that certain clinical features as well as childhood maltreatment (in particular neglect) may significantly impact moral decision making in adult life. Surprisingly, childhood trauma was associated with a more utilitarian style, which is in the opposite direction from previous effects shown in PTSD. Although speculative, our results suggest that there may be a protective quality associated with utilitarian moral decision-making tendencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Children and families enrolled in early childhood systems of care (SOC) present with various psychological and behavioral risk factors that may inhibit healthy development. Within a SOC, wraparound services are designed to increase families' access to numerous child-serving sectors in order to target those risk factors. This study examined whether child and family risk factors at enrollment in an early childhood SOC predicted dosage, service recommendation, and usage of recommended services. Method: Participants were 144 children ranging in age from 1.38 to 5.89 years and their caregivers. Families completed measures of child and caregiver functioning prior to participation in the SOC. Service recommendation and usage were measured at intake and three months, respectively. We used multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between risk factors and dosage of services received. Logistic regression analyses identified the relationships between risk factors and service recommendation and usage according to specific service types within the SOC. Results: Children with greater behavior problems received more services overall (R2 = .103, β = .243, p = .033). Child risk factors predicted recommendation for child welfare (trauma exposure:  OR = 1.352, p = .052) and mental health services (behavior problems: OR = 1.061, p = .034; trauma exposure: OR = 1.316, p = .046), whereas families with substance use issues were less likely to be recommended for mental health services (OR = .229, p = .017). Conclusions: Findings highlight opportunities for improved service provision and service-level decision making in early childhood SOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite important advances, empirical evidence regarding the impact of divorce on children is mixed, ranging widely in its conclusions regarding the intensity, chronicity, and harmfulness of parental divorce on their post-divorce adjustment. To explain the broad range of findings, we suggest that successful and dysfunctional adjustment following parental divorce may not be mutually exclusive. Rather, they may be partly independent, and children may report divorce-specific traumatic feelings as well as a relatively high post-divorce adjustment. We examined these suggestions in a sample of 142 six-to-18-year-old Dutch children whose parents were involved in high-conflict divorces. Children completed self-reported measures of post-divorce traumatic impact and adjustment. Consistent with our suggestion, children showed, on average, both high levels of trauma and high levels of post-divorce adjustment. Nevertheless, illustrating domain spill-over, at the individual level, children who experienced more traumatic impact of the divorce also reported lower levels of post-divorce adjustment. These results suggest that high-conflict divorce represents a risk for traumatic impact, and, at the same time, children demonstrate resilience. Future research examining which children are more susceptible to trauma and/or resilience over time would be promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the theme of the issue, The Impact of Trauma-Informed Care and Cultural Humility in Child Welfare Systems.

Childhood adversity is associated with altered reward processing, but little is known about whether this varies across distinct types of adversity. In a sample of 94 children (6-19 years), we investigated whether experiences of material deprivation, emotional deprivation, and trauma have differential associations with reward-related behavior and white matter microstructure in tracts involved in reward processing. Material deprivation (food insecurity), but not emotional deprivation or trauma, was associated with poor reward performance. Adversity-related influences on the integrity of white matter microstructure in frontostriatal tracts varied across childhood adversity types, and reductions in frontostriatal white matter integrity mediated the association of food insecurity with depressive symptoms. These findings document distinct behavioral and neurodevelopmental consequences of specific forms of adversity that have implications for psychopathology risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been large, recent increases in the number of children and families migrating from Central America to the U.S. to escape regional cartel and gang violence. The rate of trauma exposure in recently immigrated youth from Central America is therefore alarmingly high and current trauma symptom measures have not been evaluated for use in this population. The broad goal of this study was to report on the psychometric properties of one such measure in two studies of recently immigrated youth. Data collected included self-report of recent immigrants from Central America attending public high school in the Southwestern U.S. and caregiver-report from a sample of Central American immigrants who arrived in the U.S. within the last 24 hours and reported on trauma symptoms in their children. Aims included providing descriptive data and examining inter-item correlations and factor structure. Results indicated trauma symptoms far exceeding published cutoff levels as well as adequate internal consistency and inter-item correlations. Findings of the current studies suggest a pressing need for the assessment of trauma symptoms among recently immigrated youth from Central America, in which the rates of exposure and symptoms were striking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses some strategies that legislators and judicial system in California can adopt to introduce trauma-sensitive interventions in school districts to address trauma in children. Also cited are the potential negative effect of student trauma to the education of children from inner-city communities, the need for the government to invest in mental health interventions to resolve the effects of trauma, and the case of the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) as example.

The article offers information on teacher's role in the life of trauma-affected children. Topics discussed include importance of role clarity for defining the scope and goals of teacher's relationships with students, and then maintaining boundaries that allow us to focus on that scope; students impacted by trauma struggles to clearly identify and respect the role of different adults in their lives; and discusses that group work can focus on relationship-building,.

The article offers author's experience as an educator. Topics include a qualitative research in which an author explores personal experience and connect an autobiographical story to provide greater understanding of cultural experience; and discusses on childhood abuse and relates it with superpowers. Author also discusses his suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder and turning own demons into superpowers and reaching out to assist struggling students who are facing similar challenges.