childhood neglect and trauma

Out Of Options, Parents Of Children With Mental Illness Trade Custody For Treatment

By Christine Herman • Jul 31, 2018

When Toni and Jim Hoy adopted their son Daniel as a toddler, they did not plan to give him back to the state of Illinois 10 years later.

Nearly a Third of Foster Kids Don't Get Required Health Screenings

By Michelle Faust • Mar 9, 2015

More than half of children in foster care aren’t getting their required health screens on time according to a report released last week by the Health and Human Services Department Office of the Inspector General.

Pediatricians call it a health problem that endangers the most vulnerable population of children who have often experienced abuse and neglect. Furthermore, children in the foster system are at an elevated risk for chronic physical and mental health conditions.

Childhood Trauma Leads to Brains Wired for Fear

By Editor • Feb 3, 2015

Negative childhood experiences can set our brains to constantly feel danger and fear says psychiatrist and traumatic stress expert Bessel van der Kolk. He's the author of the recently published book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

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Side Effects Public Media is a reporting collaborative focused on public health. Find more of our reporting on childhood trauma and PTSD here.

A report by the University of San Diego School of Law found that about 686,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2013. Traumatic childhood events can lead to mental health and behavioral problems later in life, explains psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, author of the recently published book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

Children’s brains are literally shaped by traumatic experiences, which can lead to problems with anger, addiction, and even criminal activity in adulthood, says van der Kolk. Side Effects contributing producer Barbara Lewis spoke with him about his book.

Effects Of Child Abuse And Neglect On The Brain

By editor • Jul 24, 2014

Hundreds of thousands of children suffer from neglect, abuse and trauma during their early years. Many of the psychological consequences are well known, but it’s becoming increasingly clear just how damaging they are to the developing brain.

Today in the final part of our series from WBUR called “Brain Matters: Reporting from the Frontlines of Neuroscience,” Iris Adler looks at a key issue in brain development: the biological consequences of early childhood neglect and trauma.