Event overview
In this psychology department seminar Professor Antonia Bifulco will talk about her research into the long-term impact of childhood trauma on clinical disorders.
Antonia Bifulco is Professor of Lifespan Psychology and Director of Centre for Abuse and Trauma at Middlesex University, London. Please note that the subject of her talk is childhood trauma, which some people might find distressing.
Abstract
There is now substantial research to show that childhood adversity has negative impacts on individuals’ vulnerability and clinical disorder throughout their lifespan. Such childhood adversity includes a range of experiences, not only neglect or abuse, but also domestic violence, parental illness or criminality. Some of these experiences constitute direct trauma exposure for the child – for example being the victim of severe sexual or physical abuse. Others involve secondary trauma for example witnessing a parent being attacked.
Differentiating these from other types of harm (such as neglect) or social deprivation (such as father in prison) can be important for both clinical intervention and research understanding. Providing operational definitions of types of childhood trauma exposure and whether these are directed to the child or others can allow for assessing trauma ‘dosage’, aiding prediction of future clinical disorder. Other mechanisms include mediation such as through damaged attachment styles and related vulnerability. As well as PTSD more common disorders include depression, anxiety and deliberate self-harm. An exploratory analysis will consider whether unresolved trauma can be detected from fragmentary, incoherent and vivid narratives of childhood experience.
Professor Bifulco will outline the advantages of intensive interview measures of childhood trauma, which include aiding the development of research models, undertaking secondary analysis and aiding clinical approaches in understanding trauma experience and impact.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Feb 2023 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
Accessibility
If you are attending an event and need the College to help with any mobility requirements you may have, please contact the event organiser in advance to ensure we can accommodate your needs.
