Understanding the Neurobiology of Trauma

1. Understanding the Neurobiology of Trauma • Sunni D. Ward, MS • Victim Assistance Coordinator, • Elbert County Sheriff’s Office February 19,2013

2. Objectives • Discuss victim behavior and examine research on neurobiology of trauma • Discuss how neurobiology research findings can change practice and inform service providers

3. Trauma: What is it? • Physical Trauma- serious bodily injury or wound; life threatening, potentially resulting in death • Psychological Trauma- • psychological or emotional damage • A psychologically upsetting experience that produces a mental disorder or otherwise has lasting negative effects on a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior

4. Trauma: What is it? • Domestic Violence • Homicide • Mass Casualties • Kidnapping • Physical, Sexual, Emotional abuse • School violence • Severe Motor vehicle accidents • Witnessing or hearing about any of the above

5. Trauma: What is it? Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/JUSTICE/

6. Trauma: What is it? Fear Anger Depression Anxiety Safety

7. Trauma: What is it? Fear Property Loss Depression Anger Family Issues Medical Expenses Loss Wages Safety Anxiety

8. Trauma: What is it? Interaction with Police Fear Property Loss Depression Anger Family Issues Medical Expenses Loss Wages Safety Anxiety Laws Concerning Crime Intimidating Judges

9. Trauma: What do we do? Key Elements to Consider When Communicating with Victims • Establish a rapport/Empathy • I am so sorry this happened to you • This must be a very difficult time for you right now • Identification • What I hear you saying is….. • I can see/hear you are angry • Validation • What you are feeling is normal • This is NOT your fault

10. Neurobiology of Trauma: What is it? • Psychological Trauma- • A psychologically upsetting experience that produces a mental disorder or otherwise has lasting negative effects on a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior

11. Neurobiology of Trauma: What is it? • Over the last decade or so, there has been a tremendous amount of research on neuroscience and trauma: • Psychological trauma is the unique individual experience of an event or enduring conditions, in which: • The individual’s ability to integrate his/her emotional experience is overwhelmed; or • The individual experiences (subjectively) a threat to life, body integrity, or sanity (Pearlman Saakvitne, 1995,p. 60) • Our brains are pliable and have a plasticity to them that allows for structure and function changes in response to experience.

12. Neurobiology of Trauma: What is it? ~”The Body Keeps the Score” Bessel Van de Kolk

13. Structures of the Brain: The Limbic System

14. Structures of the Brain: The Limbic System Executive Center- Responsible for decision-making, planning, reasoning Reception Center- Receives info in through the senses- relays to Pre-Frontal Cortex and Amygdala Thermostat- Concerned w/ homeostasis; releases neurohormones Organization Center- Responsible for encoding information and storing information into memory Emotional Center Concerned with survival

15. Why Is this Relevant?? “Complex Compounding victim issues” Neurobiological Reasons Challenging behavior Decreased victim participation/ engagement Secondary Victimization Compassion Fatigue

16. Concluding Thoughts • Neuroscience research provides an important biological foundation for understanding the impact of our work • Understanding the neurobiology of trauma gives us as direct service providers an opportunity to inform others in our profession about what might be going on with victims during an interview, or during victim notification, or at trial. • Additionally, it will help us pinpoint the types of interventions that are most helpful to victims.