Understanding Comorbidity of Trauma and Criminal Thinking

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4:15 pm - 5:45 pm

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The most significant amount of brain growth occurs in the first five years of life, and exposure to trauma, abuse, and neglect during this critical developmental period can limit brain growth in the areas that control learning and self-regulation. That means that the impact of early trauma potentially continues throughout a child’s life by affecting social, cognitive, and emotional development. One potential consequence of such impairments is a greater likelihood for criminal thinking or behavior. A significant number of youth who exhibit delinquent behaviors and come before juvenile courts have faced both serious adversities and traumatic experiences. Rates of PTSD in juvenile justice-involved youth are estimated at between 3% to 50% (Wolpaw & Ford, 2004), comparable to the PTSD rates of soldiers returning from deployment in Iraq (Roehr, 2007). How can we interrupt this process caused by trauma? The presenters in this seminar will provide an overview on this important topic and will go over research findings that clarify how the experience of trauma contributes to changes in the brain and adverse changes in behavior. Education regarding the consequences of early trauma—and the importance of preventing it—should be a top priority.