The body's biological stress response systems are activated by being exposed to traumatic events or a series of chronic traumatic events, such as child maltreatment. When stress activation occurs, it ends up having behavioral and emotional effects that resemble specific PTSS symptoms. Within one's biological stress response system, different systems collaborate to protect the body from environmental threats and push metabolic resources to take on a "fight or flight" reaction. The traumatic events experienced have stressors connected to them that are handled by sensory systems by the thalamus in the brain. This eventually activates the amygdala, a central aspect of the brain that detects fear and anxiety. Cortisol levels are increased as fear signals are transferred to neurons within the prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Activity also increases in the locus coeruleus and sympathetic nervous system. In addition to this, there are also changes in the heart rate, metabolic rate, blood pressure, and alertness.

Activation of Biological Stress Response Systems

Caused by Psychopathology:
1. PTSD
2. Depression
3. Disruptive Behaviors
4. Suicidality
5. Substance Use Disorders

Caused by Common Medical Disorders:
1. Cardiovascular Disease
2. Obesity
3. Chronic Pain Syndromes
4. Gastrointestinal Disorders
5. Immune Dysregulation

California Baptist University

Childhood Trauma is explained as the exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. The experiences a person has can include direct trauma exposure, witnessing trauma, or learning about a trauma that a close relative or friend endured. For children, childhood traumas that end up creating distress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are motor vehicle accidents, bullying, terrorism, exposure to war, and child maltreatment. This can come in the form of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. Childhood traumas, specifically interpersonal, intentional, and chronic, are associated with a higher likelihood of PTSD, PTSD depression, anxiety, and antisocial behaviors.

Trauma in Childhood

De Bellis, M. D., & Zisk, A. (2014). The biological effects of childhood trauma. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 23(2), 185–vii. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2014.01.002

References for the Biological Effects of Childhood Trauma

Differences in Stress Biology Based on Presence of Trauma in Children

1. Criterion A: (Type A trauma) Three clusters of categorial symptoms are present for more than one month after traumatic event
2. Criterion B: (the three clusters) Intrusive re-experiencing of the traumas
3. Criterion C: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with traumas
4. Criterion D: Persistent symptoms of increased physiological arousal

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