Trauma, memory, and suggestibility in children

In this review we examine factors hypothesized to affect children's memory for traumatic events. Theoretical ideas on the processing and remembering of trauma are presented and critiqued. We review research on how psychopathology may generally influence and dissociation and posttraumatic stress disorder may specifically influence children's memory and suggestibility. The special case of child maltreatment is addressed as it relates to interviewing children about traumatic life experiences. Throughout we draw on current developmental, cognitive, social, and clinical theory and research. The review covers a controversial and exciting area of psychological inquiry.     

Clinical-developmental interface: Implications of developmental research for adolescent psychotherapy.

Suggests that therapists who work with adolescents would benefit greatly from information on typical adolescent development. An empirically based Framework for Understanding Adolescent Development is presented, detailing the normative changes of the adolescent developmental period. Treatment implications of each component of the framework are discussed. The importance of various types of knowledge that are necessary for the clinician to work effectively with adolescent clients is emphasized (i.e., knowledge of developmental norms, developmental level, developmental transitions, developmental predictors, and developmental psychopathology). Recommendations are given for how a developmental perspective can be integrated into training and intervention endeavors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A developmental psychopathology perspective on adolescence.

Developmental psychopathology offers an integrative framework for conceptualizing the course of development during adolescence, with particular relevance for understanding continuity and the emergence of psychopathology during this and subsequent developmental periods. In this article, the utility of a developmental psychopathology perspective for informing the design of research, prevention, and intervention is highlighted. Interdisciplinary, organizational models of development, emphasizing the dynamic relations between the developing individual and internal and external contexts, are discussed. Examination of boundaries between abnormal and normal development during adolescence offers important vantage points for articulating diversity in the developmental course during this period. Conceptualizing divergence and convergence in developmental pathways, continuity and discontinuity in development, and the transactions of risk and protective processes leading to maladaptation, psychopathology, and resilience are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maltreated children's memory: Accuracy, suggestibility, and psychopathology.

Memory, suggestibility, stress arousal, and trauma-related psychopathology were examined in 328 3- to 16-year-olds involved in forensic investigations of abuse and neglect. Children's memory and suggestibility were assessed for a medical examination and venipuncture. Being older and scoring higher in cognitive functioning were related to fewer inaccuracies. In addition, cortisol level and trauma symptoms in children who reported more dissociative tendencies were associated with increased memory error, whereas cortisol level and trauma symptoms were not associated with increased error for children who reported fewer dissociative tendencies. Sexual and/or physical abuse predicted greater accuracy. The study contributes important new information to scientific understanding of maltreatment, psychopathology, and eyewitness memory in children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A developmental psychopathology perspective on child abuse and neglect

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review is to conceptualize child abuse and neglect within a developmental psychopathology perspective. Toward this end, issues of definition and epidemiology, etiology, and sequelae are addressed. METHOD: Research and theory on child abuse and neglect with relevance to a developmental perspective is reviewed. RESULTS: Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the etiology and consequences of child abuse and neglect. Less progress has been made in utilizing this knowledge to inform treatment efforts. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of a developmental psychopathology perspective into efforts to understand and ameliorate the adverse effects of child abuse and neglect holds considerable promise for advancing research and intervention in the area of child maltreatment. The importance of providing comprehensive and coordinated services that incorporate knowledge of how maltreated youngsters negotiate stage-salient issues of development is stressed. The provision of child-focused treatment, parent-based models of intervention, and ecologically driven approaches to prevention all can benefit from an understanding of the adverse effects that maltreatment exerts on the process of development.     

Effect of incest on self and social functioning: A developmental psychopathology perspective.

The effects of child sexual abuse have become a leading concern of mental health service providers. Despite an explosion of studies, one major difficulty in this research is the lack of a developmentally sensitive model for conceptualizing short- and long-term effects and continuity and discontinuity of effects over time. This article proposes a model based in the perspective of developmental psychopathology. It is argued that incest has its unique negative effects in the domains of self- and social functioning, specifically in jeopardizing self-definition and integration, self-regulatory processes, and a sense of security and trust in relationships. Studies with clinical samples indicate that diagnostic conditions associated uniquely with a history of incest reflect serious self- and social impairments. A review of the developmental literature on self- and social development summarizes each major developmental transition from infancy to middle adulthood, and the implications for the negative effects of incest on development are discussed. Finally, implications for developmentally sensitive research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental representations in personality development, psychopathology, and the therapeutic process.

This article considers the construct of mental representation from the perspectives of psychoanalytic object-relations theory and cognitive developmental psychology and the congruence of these formulations with research and theory in cognitive science and social cognition. Concepts of mental representation are applied to the study of psychopathology, personality assessment, interpersonal relationships or attachment styles, and therapeutic progress in the long-term, inpatient treatment of seriously disturbed adolescents and young adults. Understanding of personality development, psychopathology, and the therapeutic process is greatly enhanced by this constructivist perspective, which considers the construction of mental representations or cognitive–affective schemes to be a central constituent of personality development and organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mémoire et émotion dans le trouble de stress post-traumatique (TSPT).

In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the hypermnesis linked to the trauma produces various emotional disturbances that result in a state of increased hypersensitivity towards environmental stimuli. Accordingly, memory and emotional functions play a predominant role in the PTSD symptomatology. Through a distinctive approach to the cognitive psychopathology research, the goal of this review is to define the nature of the links between the memory and emotional processes in PTSD. The research conducted in this area, whether on explicit or implicit memory, reveals a memory bias in information specific to the trauma. In determining the workings of the cognitive mechanisms responsible for this traumatic information bias, we hope that this will provide a basis for progress to be made in the understanding of the cognitive mechanisms responsible for the repetitive mnemic symptoms of PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental psychopathology: Current research, issues, and directions.

Developmental psychopathology refers to the study of clinical dysfunction in the context of maturational and developmental processes. Although the field encompasses the entire life span, the present focus is on childhood. Special characteristics make the study of childhood dysfunction somewhat unique, including the emergence, evolution, and attenuation of seemingly problematic behaviors over the course of development; the manner in which children are referred for clinical evaluation; and complexities in identifying the appropriate foci for clinical intervention. Notwithstanding these obstacles, recent work has advanced considerably in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of childhood disorders. The present article highlights recent advances in these areas and promising extensions in current research. Many advances have relied heavily on the extension of paradigms developed in research with adults. Additional research is needed that draws on and integrates conceptual and empirical work from developmental psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adult recollections of childhood abuse: Cognitive and developmental perspectives.

This research was conducted, as part of American Psychological Association Working Group on the Investigation of Memories of Childhood Abuse (see record 2000-13581-002), to address concerns about cases in which an individual has no memory for a traumatic experience, enters therapy, and emerges sometime later with an elaborate memory. The article summarizes research on human memory, focusing on the literature in cognitive and developmental psychology. The authors provide a broad overview of memory and its development by making use of a conceptual framework for thinking about the flow of information within the memory system. They then focus on 3 topics: (1) a developmental perspective and its relevance for considering questions of adults attempting to remember things from the distant past; (2) suggestibility, memory distortions, and the extent to which misleading information may degrade memory performance; and (3) distinguishing between reality and fantasy, and monitoring the sources of information. The report concludes with a treatment of the importance of determining boundary conditions for some of the effects that are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Memory, war and trauma.

Reviews the book, Memory, war and trauma by Nigel C. Hunt (see record 2010-17048-000). Hunt’s book presents a very different perspective on how memory, war, and trauma interface, drawing upon a variety of sources not frequently accessed by psychologists. He promotes an interdisciplinary approach to studying memory and war; however, rather than drawing upon the usual fields, such as biology or sociology, Dr. Hunt suggests that a careful examination of history and literature are also integral to developing a complete understanding of memory and war. This book is not designed for individuals unfamiliar with the field of trauma and war. Memory, war and trauma highlights the limitations of current empirical approaches to studying war trauma and presents a narrative methodology that he argues will better capture the unique individual experience of trauma. Hunt rightly demonstrates weaknesses of current methods, and suggests that the narrative method may be the solution to some of the problems with current methods. Though his argument is likely that the narrative method should supplement rather than replace current experimental method, one is left feeling that he believes current methods are wholly inadequate and his method is better. Despite this central weakness, this book will be a benefit to psychologists who study and treat individuals touched by war because it will encourage them to think beyond traditional approaches to research and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress, memory, and emotion: developmental considerations from the study of child maltreatment

Emotion and memory are examined within a developmental framework. The point of departure for this discussion is the study of maltreated children whose traumatic experiences have been linked to difficulties in emotional development. It is suggested that cognitive processes such as memory and attention serve to link experience with emotion and emotion with psychopathology. Thus, an information processing approach is used to explain the development of maltreated children's adaptive and maladaptive coping responses. It is argued that maltreated children's association of affective stimuli with traumatic experiences and memories selectively alters the meaning of emotions for these children. More generally, the role of experience and learning as a component of emotional development is emphasized.     

Distinguished Scientific Awards for an Early Career Contribution to Psychology: David M. Buss.

The Early Career Awards, given for the first time in 1974, recognize the large number of excellent young psychologists. Recipients of this award may not have held a PhD for more than nine years. For purposes of this award, psychology has been divided into nine areas: human learning and cognition, psychopathology, physiological animal learning and behavior, personality, developmental social sensation and perception, and applied research. Three areas are considered each year, with areas rotated in three-year cycles. The areas considered in 1988 were animal learning, behavior, and ethology; personality; and developmental. This year's winner in the area of personality is David M. Buss. Buss is cited for the theoretical breadth and empirical depth of his work, which are exemplars of the personological tradition in psychology and for his act-frequency approach to the analysis of personality dispositions, which, by combining a summary interpretation of traits with recent advances in cognitive psychology, has yielded a steadily developing agenda of research in personality and a fresh perspective on central issues of the field. Along with the citation, a biography and selected bibliography of Buss's published works are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The trauma response of children and adolescents. Future directions in research

Although trauma research in children lags behind that of adults and is often preliminary or unreplicated, current work promises rich understanding of the neurobiologic and psychologic mechanisms underlying the trauma response of the young. Epidemiologic and longitudinal, prospective, controlled studies sensitive to cultural and developmental differences are needed to illuminate the natural history of posttraumatic stress disorder and to show how trauma and its response interact with family, school, and community factors. Promising profound implications for society, such data would enable mental health professionals, educators, and policy makers to develop standards for prevention, detection, and intervention to optimize children's developmental trajectory.     

Development and the fragmented self: longitudinal study of dissociative symptomatology in a nonclinical sample

Dissociative behaviors and their relation to both the self and self-organization were examined using the developmental psychopathology perspective in a prospective longitudinal study of high-risk children. Participants were 168 young adults (n = 79 females, n = 89 males, age = 18-19 years) considered high-risk for poor developmental outcomes at birth due to poverty. The present study investigated whether trauma, sense of self, quality of early mother-child relationship, temperament, and intelligence were related to dissociative symptomatology measured at four times across 19 years. Findings were (a) age of onset, chronicity and severity of trauma were highly correlated and predicted level of dissociation; (b) both the avoidant and disorganized patterns of attachment were strong predictors of dissociation; (c) dissociation in childhood may be a more normative response to disruption and stress, while dissociation in adolescence and young adulthood may be more indicative of psychopathology; (d) preliminary support was found for a model proposed by G. Liotti that links disorganized attachment, later trauma, and dissociation in adulthood; and (e) strong support was found for N. Waller, F. W. Putnam, and E. B. Carlson's contention that psychopathological dissociation should not be viewed as the top end of a continuum of dissociative symptomatology, but as a separate taxon that represents an extreme deviation from normal development.     

The New Look of Behavioral Genetics in Developmental Psychopathology: Gene-Environment Interplay in Antisocial Behaviors.

This article reviews behavioral-genetic research to show how it can help address questions of causation in developmental psychopathology. The article focuses on studies of antisocial behavior, because these have been leading the way in investigating environmental as well as genetic influences on psychopathology. First, the article illustrates how behavioral-genetic methods are being newly applied to detect the best candidates for genuine environmental causes among the many risk factors for antisocial behavior. Second, the article examines findings of interaction between genes and environments (G x E) associated with antisocial behavior, outlining steps for testing hypotheses of measured G x E. Third, the article envisages future work on gene-environment interplay, arguing that it is an interesting and profitable way forward for psychopathology research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Epilogue: Bridging the gap between research on attachment and psychopathology.

Clinicians and researchers are beginning to acknowledge the importance of integrating a developmental perspective into the understanding of clinical disorders. The application of findings from basic attachment research to this understanding of psychopathology is a prototype for interdisciplinary research. However, major gaps continue to exist between basic research on attachment processes and clinical issues of assessment, classification, and treatment of mental disorders from infancy through adolescence. This epilogue highlights the importance of more integrative research. As a reflection of growth in this direction, National Institute of Mental Health funding patterns are reviewed, and promising areas for future research are suggested. The field is well positioned for conceptual advancement if more integrative approaches are used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of fathers in child and adolescent psychopathology: Make room for daddy.

Summarizes research concerning the relation between paternal factors and child and adolescent psychopathology. When compared with mothers, fathers continue to be dramatically underrepresented in developmental research on psychopathology. However, findings from studies of children of clinically referred fathers and nonreferred samples of children and their fathers indicate that there is substantial association between paternal characteristics and child and adolescent psychopathology. Findings from studies of fathers of clinically referred children are stronger for fathers' effects on children's externalizing than internalizing problems. In most cases the degree of risk associated with paternal psychopathology is comparable to that associated with maternal psychopathology. Evidence indicates that the presence of paternal psychopathology is a sufficient but not necessary condition for child or adolescent psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychopathology of childhood: Research problems and issues.

Argues that research on child psychopathology would benefit from reducing the influence of adult treatment models and from applying a developmental perspective to clinical research on children. Specific methodological problems are discussed, including the assessment of S characteristics; the use of replicable and generalizable diagnostic classifications; the effects of situational specificity and developmental variance on measures of children's behavior; the need to avoid pathological biases in judging children; relationships among correlation, causation, and prediction in a developmental context; problems in measuring change; and the effects of age, cohort, and time of measurement, as well as fallacies in drawing longitudinal conclusions from cross-sectional data. Research needs are also identified, including the need to devise and use well-standardized measures; the need to evaluate interactions between S and treatment variables in outcome research; the need for long-term follow-ups of children identified as being at risk; the need for cumulative programmatic research; and the need to link research more closely to service systems. (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Sinking Into the Ground": The Development and Consequences of Shame in Adolescence

Although in recent years the developmental antecedents and clinical consequences of shame have received increased theoretical and research attention, little is yet known about shame's development after early childhood or its role in developmental psychopathology. This article reviews the literature on shame and on adolescence and suggests that attention to the role of shame in adolescent development is warranted for several reasons. Social-cognitive, physical, and interpersonal changes associated with adolescence may each be associated with normative increases in shame during adolescence. In addition, several lines of evidence converge to suggest that shame may be implicated in some of the important gender-related shifts in self-esteem and developmental psychopathology that occur over the adolescent years.