Open AccessNeurobiological Development in the Context of Childhood Trauma
Author(s) -
Cross Dorthie,
Fani Negar,
Powers Abigail,
Bradley Bekh
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical psychology: science and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1468-2850
pISSN - 0969-5893
DOI - 10.1111/cpsp.12198
Subject(s) - amygdala , psychology , context (archaeology) , prefrontal cortex , neuroscience , developmental psychology , cognition , dissociation (chemistry) , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , medicine , paleontology , chemistry , macroeconomics , economics , biology
Neurobiological systems may be particularly susceptible to the deleterious impact of childhood trauma, and the impact of childhood trauma on development and subsequent functional outcomes across the life span has been well documented. The current review addresses the neurobiological impact of exposure to interpersonal trauma in childhood in the context of executive function, emotion regulation, and dissociation/interoceptive awareness. Subsequent risk for PTSD and depression is also discussed. The pathway of risk from childhood trauma to these cognitive, emotional, and psychiatric outcomes is addressed in terms of potential structural and functional alterations within the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala resulting from chronic or repeated activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal ( HPA ) axis and its interaction with and influence on genetic and epigenetic processes during sensitive periods of development. Implications for practice are discussed.