Child Abuse: Neurophysiological
Consequences
May
30th, 2001
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ii
BIOPHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
AND ABNORMALITIES
Brain Physiology, An Overview 1
Ø The HPA Axis and CRF System 2
Ø The Hippocampus 5
BEHAVIOURAL AND
PSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS
Characteristic Behaviours 7
Psychiatric Disorders 9
Ø Depression 10
Ø Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 11
TREATMENT AND
REHABILITATION
Environmental Interventions 12
Therapeutic Interventions 14
CONCLUSION 16
REFERENCES 18
INTRODUCTION
The
purpose of this paper is simply to explore a comparatively small segment of the
neuro-physiological, behavioural, and psychiatric ramifications of child abuse
in this society. This effort is not
being made to come to any grand conclusions or insights into the cause and
effect of the damage done to a child who suffers under the burden of violence
in the home. It is merely a review of
existing research, literature, documentation, and texts as well as my own
thoughts on children and domestic violence and the inherent harm involved. I think in light of the astounding evidence
(i.e., rapid increase in violence in society, especially among children) it is
indisputable that violence in a child’s life on an on-going basis causes
neuro-physiological and neuro-psychological damage on a cellular, indeed,
genetic level. I will attempt to
describe causal abnormalities of just one of several neuro-physiological systems
within the brain and body compromised by domestic violence that manifests, in a
dysfunctional state, certain behaviours and ultimately psychiatric pathology.
Conclusively, I will explore briefly a few environmental and therapeutic
interventions currently available with the understanding that the institutions
of mental health and social services are vigorously working on fine tuning
effective programs for both children and adults that will, hopefully, one day
address this society’s darkest secret.
