Child psychotherapy, Early Childhood trauma, Child development Child Abuse

Retrospective assessment of childhood trauma: review of the instruments.

by Francesco Pietrini

Pietrini F, Lelli L, Verardi A, Silvestri C, Faravelli C. [Retrospective
assessment of childhood trauma: review of the instruments]. Riv Psichiatr. 2010 Jan-Feb;45(1):7-16. Review. Italian. PubMed PMID: 20380237.

AIM: Childhood trauma has a crucial and proved role for the development of
psychopathology during adulthood. The... more AIM: Childhood trauma has a crucial and proved role for the development of
psychopathology during adulthood. The results of a systematic review on the
instruments for the retrospective assessment of childhood trauma are reported in
order to compare their reliability, validity, comprehensiveness and use.
METHODS: A literature search on this argument was conducted on Medline electronic
archives and by canvassing English-language and other European languages
publications. Eligible instruments were restricted to the ones with: available
publications, retrospective assessment on adult population, independence from
specific diagnostic categories, sufficient data regarding the main features.
RESULTS: Of the 19 eligible instruments, the Familial Experiences Interview (FEI)
and the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report (ETI-SR) evaluate the highest number
of "trauma areas" considered in this review. The reliability and validity data
provided by Authors, when available, are reported to be good to excellent. The
four most used instruments in the clinical and epidemiological practice appear to
be the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI),
the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse (CECA.Q) and the Childhood Trauma
Questionnaire (CTQ).
DISCUSSION: Our review on the currently available instruments has pointed out
some weaknesses that narrow their actual use and evaluation capability. Such
issues should be taken in consideration and further discussed especially
considering the increasing consent of research on the role of childhood trauma
for the development of adult psychopathology.

PMID: 20380237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A model of intervention at a psychoanalytic parent/child drop-in group in a poor district of Lima, Peru

by Joshua Holmes

Forthcoming in the Journal of Child Psychotherapy

The psychoanalytically informed work of a team of workers at a drop-in centre for families in a poor district of Lima... more The psychoanalytically informed work of a team of workers at a drop-in centre for families in a poor district of Lima is described.  Interventions involve: accepting, connecting, playing and empowering. Clinical vignettes are used to illustrate the ways in which these interventions aim to help families.  The acceptance of difficult feelings provides containment for attendees; acceptance of individuality fosters a greater capacity to mentalise. In viewing the patient as the relation between parents and child, connections are forged and encouraged between family members. Questions and difficulties that parents express are relayed to children in a palatable way, modelling the inclusion of children in the family dialogue. Playing is advocated and encouraged, and elements of the fluid ‘frame’ impact on how playful interactions are shaped. Empowering takes place through encouraging reflexivity and dissolving fantasies of passivity. Questions about child behaviour are reflected back to the questioner or to other attendees, and pathologising diagnostic terms, if raised by families, are challenged and investigated, rather than accepted, encouraging families to carry on thinking. The implications of this model of work are discussed.

Confronting Death Mother: An interview with Marion Woodman

by Daniela Sieff

Neurobiology in the Consulting Room: An Interview with Margaret Wilkinson

by Daniela Sieff