Journal of Traumatic Stress

Volume 21, Issue 2 p. 223-226

Brief Report

Accumulated childhood trauma and symptom complexity

John Briere,

Corresponding Author

John Briere

[email protected]

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Psychological Trauma Program, LAC+USC Medical Center, 2020 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90033Search for more papers by this author

Stacey Kaltman,

Stacey Kaltman

Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC

Search for more papers by this author

Bonnie L. Green,

Bonnie L. Green

Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC

Search for more papers by this author

John Briere,

Corresponding Author

John Briere

[email protected]

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Psychological Trauma Program, LAC+USC Medical Center, 2020 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90033Search for more papers by this author

Stacey Kaltman,

Stacey Kaltman

Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC

Search for more papers by this author

Bonnie L. Green,

Bonnie L. Green

Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 10 April 2008

https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20317

Citations: 254

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Abstract

The relationship between accumulated exposure to different types of traumatic events (cumulative trauma) in childhood and the total number of different types of symptomatology reported (symptom complexity) in adulthood was examined in a sample of 2,453 female university students. There was a linear relationship between the number of trauma types experienced by participants before 18 and symptom complexity. This effect remained even when controlling for specific traumatic events, suggesting a generalized effect of cumulative trauma.

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Volume21, Issue2

April 2008

Pages 223-226

Accumulated childhood trauma and symptom complexity

Abstract

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Accumulated childhood trauma and symptom complexity

Abstract

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