Video analysis: Childhood trauma
Harris Burke video: Childhood trauma
Summary
The video begins with Dr Harris Burke pointing out that in the mid-90s it was already known that a particular variable increased the risk for the leading causes of death in the United States. She further states that exposure in high doses to this variable increased the risk for a number of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and reduces longevity. Ms Harris goes on to lament the fact that this particular variable is not given importance by the medical profession despite the statistics. Childhood trauma, which she defines as severe and pervasive is the particular exposure which creates these risks and additionally can change a person’s physiology. Such trauma falls under the labels of abuse, neglect, problematic parenting. Ms Harris then charts her journey towards the realisation that childhood trauma is more than simply a social or mental health problem by describing her work within a poor area of San Francisco. She mentions a high number of referrals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and she made the link with childhood trauma. After reading a study that had been done on the subject of adverse childhood experiences where negative experiences were correlated against health outcomes, Ms Burke emphasises the point that science has made it clear that childhood trauma has a profound impact on a person’s life by giving the example of neurological effects. The continuous stress that people are exposed to has the same effect as childhood trauma. Even if a child has not been exposed to trauma, stress will have the same effect. Basically, Ms Harris advocates that science has made her aware of patients that are at higher risk of disease because the link with childhood trauma was highlighted through scientific methods.
Psychological concepts discussed
| Concept | Discussion |
| Mental health | Related to the mental health of parents of children and the parents’ behaviours |
| Trauma | The event that is claimed to produce a lifelong negative effect on health |
| abuse | An act which can contribute to trauma |
| neglect | An act which can contribute to trauma |
| parenting | Bad parenting can also be a contributor to trauma |
| need | Ms Burke expressed a desire to be in a place where whe was ‘needed’ |
| pride | The feeling Ms Burke had when the ‘numbers’ of their clinic were achieved |
| adhd | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – the reason Ms Burke directed her attention to investigating childhood trauma effects on health |
| Research | Undertaken by Ms Burke while investigating childhood trauma |
| Emotional abuse | An act which can contribute to trauma |
| Sexual abuse | An act which can contribute to trauma |
| Mental illness | Parental mental health was seen as a contributing factor to trauma |
| Addiction | Childhood trauma can lead to addiction and substance abuse |
| Parenting problems | An act which can contribute to trauma |
| Domestic abuse | An act which can contribute to trauma |
| depression | Childhood trauma can lead to higher rates of depression |
| suicide | Childhood trauma can lead to higher rates of suicide |
| Development of children | Because children are still developing, they are affected more by trauma and stress |
| Impulse control | Because the brain can be affected by stress and trauma and because the centre for impulse control is in the brain, impulse control is affected by stress and trauma |
| Executive function | Because the brain can be affected by stress and trauma and because the centre for executive function is in the brain, executive function is affected by stress and trauma |
| fear | Because the brain can be affected by stress and trauma and because the centre for fear is in the brain, fear response is affected by stress and trauma |
| Risky behaviour | Because the brain can be affected by stress and trauma and because the centre for behaviour is in the brain, risky behaviour is affected by stress and trauma |
| stress | The stress referred to here is toxic stress |
| Fight or flight | A response to stress |
| learning | Dr Harris Burke’s expectations of the reactions to the finding of the correlation of childhood trauma with lifelong health were not met. This was a reality that she learnt about. This also refers to the learning that parents received on the effects of childhood trauma |
| hope | Because the ‘science’ is there, the problem can be attacked |
| determination | What is needed to address the problem of childhood trauma and toxic stress |
| commitment | What is needed to address the problem of childhood trauma and toxic stress |
| marginalisation | Used in the sense of denigrating or ignoring. Avoidance |
| understanding | What science has brought to the question of childhood trauma and toxic stress |
| belief | Dr Harris Burke’s attitude that everyone is part of the solution |
| courage | What is needed to accept the finding of childhood trauma and toxic stress influence lifelong health |
Related Psychological Concepts
The talk raises the issue of a positivist approach to research and the benefits that can be derived from that (many statistics are mentioned). In psychological terms, trauma is an emotional response to an intrinsic or extrinsic event. Further related to this concept is that of post traumatic stress disorder where the emotional response is a delayed reaction some time after the event has occurred. Memory comes into play here as well, as memories of childhood abuse that can also have negative mental effects later in life. Abuse is a word that has many connotations and there are several different type of abuse, all of which have a bearing of the subject of childhood trauma. ADHD is of course a well-known psychological concept. Addiction and substance abuse are alone well-recognised psychological concepts that can have a connection with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Other related concepts to addiction are reward, motivation and memory. Depression is another well-known psychological concept that is related to other mental conditions such as bipolar, anxiety, panic disorder and schizophrenia which in turn are also connected with emotions such as fear, hope, courage and behaviour.
An ecosystemic approach, specifically reductionism (breaking down the correlates of lifetime ill-health) and linear causality (eg. childhood trauma leading to lifelong ill health) are evident in Dr. Harris Burke’s talk. At the end of her talk, the concept of denial took pride of place (labelled as marginalisation)
Reflection
I am quite amazed that the finding that childhood trauma and toxic stress could have such wide-reaching effects on health has not been disseminated more widely. Not only does it seem to be a common-sense connection, but it has been backed up by research (I believe Dr. Harris Burke is a trustworthy source – otherwise she would not have been invited to talk on TED). I am pleased to see that quantitative research produces such potent ammunition for developing change but I suspect one of the reasons why these findings have not been widely disseminated (besides the concept of denial as discussed by Dr. Harris Burke) is because they have not been interpreted in such a way that policy-makers can use them effectively.
Letter to Dr Harris Burke
Dear Dr Harris Burke
I have a few observations I would like to make about your TED talk on childhood trauma effects on lifelong health. I was very surprised that the findings on childhood trauma are not more widely distributed and known but I think your observation that people are in denial could have some truth to it. I would assume that the research, added to your own observations, needs to be packaged in such a way that it avoids providing opportunity for denial. Perhaps if it were taken up at a higher government level?
Kind regards
Christine Bothma