Impact Of Childhood Maltreatment Research Articles

MAOA and the “Cycle of Violence:” Childhood Abuse and Neglect, MAOA Genotype, and Risk for Violent and Antisocial Behavior

Two recent studies with white males have shown that genotypes associated with high levels of monamine oxidase A (MAOA) protect against the impact of childhood maltreatment and adversity on the development of antisocial behavior and conduct disorder. Participants in a prospective cohort design study involving court substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect and a matched comparison group were followed up into adulthood and interviewed (N = 802). Eighty-two percent consented to provide blood and 631 gave permission for DNA extraction and analyses. A composite index of violent and antisocial behavior (VASB) was created based on arrest, self-report, and diagnostic information. No main effect was found for the relationship between MAOA genotype and VASB. Genotypes associated with high levels of MAOA activity buffered abused and neglected whites from increased risk of becoming violent and/or antisocial in later life. This protective effect was not found for non-white abused and neglected individuals. Possible explanations for this differential effect for whites and non-whites include differences in contextual factors (e.g., environmental stressors) and a question of the suitability of using the MAOA promoter VNTR polymorphism as a proxy for MAOA levels in non-white populations.

Impact of Childhood Abuse on Disease Course in Veterans with Bipolar Disorder

Impact of Childhood Abuse on Disease Course in Veterans with Bipolar Disorder

Traumatic Victimization in the Lives of Lesbian and Bisexual Women

SUMMARY This paper takes a contextual approach to understanding traumatic victimization experiences of lesbian and bisexual women over the life span. Expanding on feminist perspectives on violence against women, the concept of “cultural victimization” is used to explore the role of societal homophobia in shaping the experience of victimization for lesbian and bisexual women. An overview of the existing literature on the prevalence and impact of childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and hate crimes among this population is provided. The relationship between sexual identity development and trauma is discussed. This article provides a framework for understanding lesbian and bisexual women's victimization, lends insight to clinicians working with lesbian/bisexual survivors, and provides direction for future research.

How the special needs brain learns

List of Strategies to Consider About the Author Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgements Introduction Who Are Special Needs Students? Can Brain Research Help? What Is in This Book? A Word of Caution 1. The Brain and Learning Some Exterior Parts of the Brain Lobes of the Brain Motor Cortex and Somatosensory Cortex Cerebellum Some Interior Parts of the Brain Brainstem Limbic Area Cerebrum Brain Cells Learning and Retention Implications for Students With Learning Disabilities Rehearsal Learning Motor Skills How Different Are the Brains of Today's Students? The Search for Novelty Have Schools Changed to Deal With This Different Brain? 2. When Learning Difficulties Arise Research Examines Learning Disabilities Possible Causes of Learning Disabilities Gender Differences What Forms of Instruction Are Most Effective? Misconceptions About Learning Disabilities Gifted Children With Learning Disabilities Responsiveness to Intervention Key Elements of Responsiveness to Intervention Helping Students Become Strategic Learners What Is Learning? Learning Difficulties of Students With Learning Disabilities What Are Learning Strategies? How Important Is Self-Esteem? 3. Attention Disorders Research Findings What Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? What Causes ADHD? Is ADHD Inherited? IS ADHD on the Increase? Is it Possible to Have ADHD-Like Behavior and Not Have ADHD? The Future of ADHD Research and Treatment What Educators Need to Consider 4. Speech Disabilities Learning Spoken Language Is Language Prewired in the Brain? Speech and Language Patterns by Age Putting the Language Components Together Problems in Learning Spoken Language Language Problems With Children and Adolescents Language Deficits and Learning a Second Language The Future of Speech-Language Disorders Research What Educators Need to Consider 5. Reading Disabilities Learning to Read Is Reading a Natural Ability? Spoken Language and Reading Decoding and Comprehension Difficulties in Learning to Read Social and Cultural Causes of Reading Problems Physical Causes of Reading Problems Is Dyslexia Present in Readers of Other Languages? Brain Imaging Studies and Dyslexia Detecting Reading Problems Spoken Language Difficulties Early Indicators of Reading Problems What Educators Need to Consider What Teachers Should Know About Teaching Reading What Beginning Readers Need to Learn Some Effective Reading Intervention Programs 6. Writing Disabilities Learning to Write Difficulties in Writing Environmental Causes Neurological Causes Dysgraphia What Educators Need to Consider Characterisitics of Good Writing Helping Students With Dysgraphia 7. Mathematical Disabilities Learning to Calculate Numerical Reasoning Independent of Language Gender Differences in Mathematics Difficulties in Mathematics Dyscalculia The Future of Research in Mathematics Disorders What Educators Need to Consider Determining the Source of the Problem Diagnostic Tools for Assessing Learning Difficulties in Mathematics Other Considerations 8. Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Emotions, Behavior, and Learning Pathways of Emotional Signals Different Brain Areas for Different Emotions First Survival and Emotions, Then the Textbook Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Anxiety Disorders Depressive Disorders Other Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Impact of Childhood Abuse The Future of Research in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders What Educators Need to Consider 9. Autism Spectrum Disorders Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders The Future of Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders What Educators Need to Consider 10. Putting It All Together Helping Students With Learning Difficulties Identifying Students With Learning Difficulties Accommodating Students With Learning Difficulties Motivating Students With Learning Difficulties Communicating With Parents Glossary References Resources Index

The Impact of Childhood Abuse and Neglect on Adult Mental Health: A Prospective Study

This paper examines the impact of three types of victimization in childhood--sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect--on lifetime measures of mental health among adults. In contrast to research that relies on retrospective recall of childhood victimization, this work uses a prospective sample gathered from records of documented court cases of childhood abuse and neglect in a midwestern city around 1970. These subjects were interviewed about twenty years later. In addition, this research compares outcomes of the 641 members of the abuse and neglect group with a matched control group of 510 persons who did not have documented cases of abuse or neglect. The results indicate that men who were abused and neglected as children have more dysthymia and antisocial personality disorder as adults than matched controls, but they did not have more alcohol problems. Abused and neglected women report more symptoms of dysthymia, antisocial personality disorder, and alcohol problems than controls. After controlling for stressful life events, however, childhood victimization had little direct impact on any lifetime mental health outcome. This research indicates the importance of adopting an approach that places childhood victimization in the context of other life stressors and of prospective changes over the life course.

The Long Term Impact of Child Abuse on Religious Behavior and Spirituality in Men

Objective: Two hypotheses were tested: (1) In a sample of adult men, past experience of child abuse (sexual, physical, or emotional) will be related to higher levels of reported alienation from religion and God as shown in lower rates of current religious behavior, higher frequency of spiritual “injury,” and lower stability of religious behavior and experiences; (2) More “severe” forms of abuse will be associated with higher indicators of alienation. Method: Data were collected from 1,207 male veterans, 527 (43.7%) of whom reported being abused as a child. Each subject completed the Spiritual Issues Assessment, a large survey which includes data about: (1) KASL Religiosity Index; (2) The Spiritual Injury Scale; and (3) Religious items from the Westberg Personal Health Inventory. Results: A history of sexual abuse was related to significantly greater spiritual injury and lower stability of spiritual behaviors and experiences, but not to overall rate of current religious behavior. Surprisingly, abuse was related to increased frequency of prayer and of “spiritual experience.” Multivariate analyses indicate that the effect size is relatively small and the type of abuse was less important than the presence of any form of abuse. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the impact of childhood abuse is more complex than initially hypothesized. While abuse seems to be related to continuing spiritual injury and distress, it is also related to higher levels of some spiritual activities and experiences which are usually associated with positive spirituality.

Childhood attachment and abuse: Long-term effects on adult attachment, depression, and conflict resolution

Objective: The primary aim was to determine the relative contributions of early attachment and abuse history to adult attachment, depression, and conflict resolution behaviors. Differences between abused and nonabused respondents were also assessed. Method: A multi-scale questionnaire was completed by 879 college students. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to answer the primary research question, and analyses also compared the 26.4% of respondents who reported childhood abuse with those who did not. Results: Respondents who indicated they had been abused as children reported less secure childhood and adult relationships than their nonabused counterparts. They were also more depressed and more likely to use destructive behaviors in conflict situations. Although both adult romantic attachment and respondents' depression scores were best accounted for by childhood attachment to mother and father rather than abuse history, the opposite pattern of results emerged for conflict resolution behaviors. In this case, abuse history was the stronger predictor, and parental attachment did not account for any significant additional variance. Conclusions: Results suggest that the long-term impact of childhood abuse may be mediated by early attachment experiences, whereas the long-term impact of abuse on conflict resolution behaviors may be considerably more direct.

Trauma and the Self

Constructivist self development theory (CSDT) provides a theoretical framework for understanding the impact of trauma on the self. The theory integrates psychoanalytic theory with theories of social cognition. This article describes the impact of childhood abuse and neglect in a CSDT framework, focusing on the self capacities, or inner abilities that maintain a cohesive, consistent sense of self. The article outlines the psychological and behavioral sequelae of undeveloped self capacities resulting from emotional trauma. It then provides a detailed approach to the psychotherapeutic development of self capacities.

The impact of childhood maltreatment on young mothers' violent behavior toward themselves and others

This report explores the impact of a history of physical and/or sexual child abuse on violent behavior in pregnant youth and adolescent mothers. The sample was composed of 58 pregnant adolescents and 93 young mothers. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine prediction of violent and self-injurious behaviors from presence or absence of childhood maltreatment, substance use variables, and selected sociodemographic factors. Of the subjects, 50% reported a history of child abuse, and nearly 10% reported having made a suicide attempt within the last 12 months. Subjects with a history of abuse were nearly seven times more likely to attempt suicide than those without. Nurses are in a key position to provide comprehensive preventive and health promotion services to pregnant youth with a history of abuse. Health care should include screening to identify victims of violence, evaluation for suicidal ideation and history of attempts, and psychotherapeutic counseling.

Childhood Abuse, Depression, and Chronic Pain

To investigate the relationships among history of childhood abuse, type of pain, and depression. Survey, consecutive sample, correlational. An interdisciplinary pain-management center in a rehabilitation hospital. The participants were 201 consecutive patients with chronic pain complaints, 68% women, mean age 38 years, of whom 28% complained of pain in more than three major sites, 26% had low back pain, 19% had craniofacial pain, and 25% had pain in other regions. Beck Depression Inventory, Childhood History recorded presence or absence of abuse, age of onset, age when abuse was acknowledged, duration and frequency of abuse, relationship of abuser to the participant. Pain type was classified by IASP. Patients with history of both sexual and physical abuse in childhood had more depression. The differences among abuse groups was significant (p < 0.03). The impact of childhood abuse and type of pain on depression was tested by a two-factor analysis of variance. The influence of childhood abuse was significant (p < 0.04), whereas the influence of type of pain (p < 0.76) and the interaction between type of pain and childhood abuse (p < 0.40) were not significant. There is a positive, significant relationship between depression and history of childhood sexual and physical abuse. The influence of type of pain on depression was not significant. Prevailing research explained depression as an expected, natural consequence of chronic pain. Our research suggests that the relationship between chronic pain and depression may be attributable in part to childhood abuse history.