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

California Baptist University

Childhood trauma is a prominent factor that can impact brain development and alter an individual’s functioning. When it comes to specific brain areas, having damages, dysfunctions, or poor development can severely impact a person’s ability to control their emotions, thought processes and understand the consequences of their actions. An example of a brain area that can be affected by trauma is the prefrontal cortex. This area of research has been prominent when studying juvenile offenders and their level of culpability, as it can be argued that their behaviors were influenced by how developed their brains were and any damage they had. 

Childhood Trauma and Brain Development

Trauma that is experienced in childhood has serious consequences for both victims and society, as it concerns psychosocial, medical, and public policy problems. The most common violence in children is chronic interpersonal. Even with how prevalent childhood trauma is, there is a lack of research on the biological effects in children compared to adults who have a history of child trauma.  There is also a lack of research on pediatric mechanisms and how they are the foundation for short and long-term medical and mental health consequences. This article places emphasis on different literature surrounding the neurobiological results of childhood trauma in children and adults. 

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