The Impact of lifetime Trauma on Clinical Emotional Disorder

This course will focus on the recognition, understanding and definition of

trauma experience at different stages in the lifespan. The relationship of

trauma to emotional disorder (Depression, anxiety and PTSD) will be

outlined. There will be a focus on practical issues around operational

definitions and measurement of experience; use of case study and

vignettes to clarify severity and type of trauma. The area of psychology

utilized will be lifespan; psychosocial and clinical. The sessions will involve

applied aspects to illustrate themes.

The first sessions will begin with childhood experience (before age 17) to

identify inter-personal trauma, abusive and related adverse experience.

Models linking such experience to vulnerability for clinical disorder will be

outlined. Socio-ecological, developmental psychopathological and

attachment models with be outlined. The vulnerability outlined will be

cognitive-emotional, social/educational and inter-personal. Case

examples from research interview or services and practical rating

exercises to help identify the type and severity of childhood trauma will

be provided

The second session will examine adult inter-personal trauma (aged 18+)

and stressful life events in relation to emotional disorder. Examples of

trauma will include domestic violence and bereavement. Definitions of

adult trauma, as well as severe life events will be provided. Practical case

studies and vignettes for rating adverse experience will be provided.

Different measures will be examined (questionnaires, interviews and

online) and findings around the characteristics of adverse events which

increase risk of disorder (eg those involving loss, danger, humiliation).

The third session will examine intergenerational transmission of trauma

and risks for disorder. This will examine both parenting and attachment as

potential transmitters as well as partner relationships and social

adversity. Examples of problem parenting and transmission of risk will be

provided in case studies and vignettes. Measures of parenting will be

discussed.

The students will receive a strong foundation in assessment of adverse

experience; will learn about interview methods and will be presented

with models of how emotional disorder is caused.

The course will provide a basis for further study of both research and

clinical work.

Bifulco, A., Schimmenti, A., Moran, P., Jacobs, C., Bunn, A., & Rusu, A. C.

(2014). Problem parental care and teenage deliberate self-harm in young

community adults. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 78(2), 95-114.

doi:10.1521/bumc.2014.78.2.95

F

elitti, V. J. (2002). The Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences to

Adult Health: Turning gold into lead. Z psychsom Med Psychother, 48(4),

359-369. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.53.8.1001

Bifulco, A., Damiani, R., Jacobs, C., & Spence, R. (in press). Partner

violence in women - associations with major depression, attachment style

and childhood maltreatment. International Journal of Multidisciplinary

Trauma.

Bifulco, A., Bernazzani, O., Moran, P. M., & Ball, C. (2000). Lifetime

stressors and recurrent depression: preliminary findings of the Adult Life

Phase Interview (ALPHI). Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology,

35, 264-275. doi:10.1007/s001270050238

Ansara D.L., Hindin M.J. (2011). Psychosocial consequences of intimate

partner violence for women and men in Canada. Journal of Interpersonal

Violence, 26, 1628-1645. doi:10.1177/088626051037060

Van der Kolk, B. (2005). Developmental trauma disorder. Psychiatric

Annals, 35(5), 401-408.

Widom, C. S., Czaja, S. J., Bentley, T., & Johnson, M. S. (2012). A

prospective investigation of physical health outcomes in abused and

neglected children: New findings from a 30-year follow-up. American

Journal of Public Health, 102(6), 1135-1144. .

doi:10.2105/ALPH.2011.300636

Bifulco, A., Moran, P., Jacobs, C., & Bunn, A. (2009). Problem partners and

parenting: exploring linkages with maternal insecure attachment style

and adolescent offspring internalizing disorder. Attachment & Human

Development,11(1), 69-85. doi:10.1080/14616730802500826

Fergusson D., M.; Boden, Joseph, M. and Horwood, L. John. (2006).

Examining the intergenerational transmission of violence in a New

Zealand birth cohort. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30(2), 89-108.

Herwig, J. E. (2004). Depression, partnership, social support, and

parenting: interaction of maternal factors with behavioral problems of the

child. Journal of Affective Disorders, 80, 199-208.

Edelstein, R. S., Alexander, K. W., Shaver, P. R., Schaaf, J. M., Quas, J. A.,

Lovas, G. S., . (2004). Adult attachment style and parental responsiveness

during a stressful event. Attachment & Human Development, 6(1), 31-52.

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

 Describe trauma definitions with specific focus on certain types of

trauma and differentiated from other adverse experience

 Discuss how trauma experience is operationalized and assessed

 Explain how trauma experience links to clinical disorder across the

lifespan. Including attachment and social models.

A short answer assessment exercise will take place at the end of the three

sessions over a dedicated 1 hour session. This will test understanding of

the main themes.

Attendance rules

No more than one absence permitted, and only with a formal

documented excuse. Sessions will be self-contained and not highly

dependent upon the preceding one. Materials will be sent on ahead if

students do miss a session.