Recovering from Childhood Trauma: Treatment Options
“Adverse childhood experiences are the single unaddressed public health threat facing [the world] today.”
Dr. Robert Block, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Last month, I looked at the link between childhood trauma and lifelong health outcomes. The results of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, completed in 1998, make it clear that children are especially sensitive to trauma. (1) Their brains and bodies are still developing, and the repeated stress-activation of ACEs has a major impact on this process.
Now that we better understand the impact of childhood trauma, it’s important to apply this information to both prevention efforts and treatment options.
It starts with a routine screening of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) at each annual appointment. As pediatrician Dr. Nadine Burke Harris explains in an impactful TEDMED Talk (one that I referenced in last month's blog post as well), “I know that if my patient has an ACE score of 4, she’s 2.5 times as likely to develop hepatitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); 4.5 times as likely to become depressed; and 12 times as likely to attempt suicide as my patient with an ACE score of 0.”
When a patient screens positive, it’s important for a multidisciplinary treatment team to step in and work together to reduce the impact of toxic stress. Best practices for treating symptoms include nutritional guidance, mental health care, home visits, care coordination, holistic interventions, and medication when necessary.
Another important piece of the puzzle is educating parents to better understand the lifelong significance of chronic stress and ACEs. They need to be trained to protect their children in the same way that they know to cover electrical outlets or position their baby for safe sleep! They also need to realize that some children, such as those with asthma or diabetes, may need more aggressive treatment due to the changes on their immune and/or hormonal systems.
When we recognize childhood trauma and stress as a public health crisis, we can begin to develop a tool kit to find solutions.
There is a widely-accepted belief that the severity of this problem doesn’t apply to everyone, that it only affects “those kids in those neighborhoods.” In truth, this issue is one that touches many of us. I also want to note here that the original ACEs study was completed on a population that was 70 percent Caucasian and 70 percent college-educated.
Dr. Burke Harris puts it like this: “The science is clear: Early adversity dramatically affects health across a lifetime.” As we better understand the link between childhood trauma and lifelong health outcomes, we learn how to interrupt the progression from early adversity to chronic disease and early death. Most significantly, with the right approach, we now know it is treatable.
In closing, I want to recognize the work of the Blue Knot Foundation, an Australian organisation that supports survivors of complex trauma and their caregivers.
More than 1 in 4 adult Australians are impacted by complex trauma, and this foundation strives to help them recover and build resilience in spite of their experiences. If you or a loved one needs help, reach out to the Blue Knot Helpline and Redress Support Service at 1300 657 380.
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Felitti, V.J. and Anda, R.F. (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. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(98)00017-8/fulltext