My usual focus is on the connection between stress and physical symptoms that are not explained by detectable disease. However, there is also research showing a link between stress and diseases of body organs. An earlier post (Adults who had Stress in Childhood (2)) reviewed results from the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study led by Vincent Felitti and Robert Anda.
Posts Tagged ‘childhood stress’
Stress and Disease of Body Organs (1)
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Stress Illness Brochure (3)
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Linking Stresses and Symptoms (2)
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009The biggest shock of my medical education was learning that stress in childhood could make an adult physically ill. Symptoms may be mild or can be so severe that hospital treatment is needed. (I cared for one 35 year old childhood stress survivor in the hospital for 77 days. It took five years, but she is now entirely well.)
Adults who had Stress in Childhood (5)
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009For the million American children identified by social agencies as being maltreated every year, and for the many more whose abuse is not brought to the attention of authorities, a new study* shows that the long shadow of their misfortune falls on their economic potential as adults.
Adults who had Stress in Childhood (4)
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009The long-term effects of childhood stress impact relationships and mood in adults. The study* described in the last post surveyed 380 women who came to a general medical clinic. In addition to questions about abuse in childhood, patients were surveyed about whether they had ever experienced intimate-partner violence (IPV) and also about depression. (The vast majority of those who had experienced IPV were no longer in an abusive relationship.)
Adults who had Stress in Childhood (3)
Monday, November 30th, 2009Adult patients seen by primary care medical clinicians often are affected by stress in childhood. Recent evidence of this is a study of 380 women at a medical clinic at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland *. Their survey asked about physical or sexual childhood abuse and assessed the impact of these on physical symptoms.
Adults who had Stress in Childhood (2)
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009Researchers have been shocked at the profound impact childhood stress can have on health in adults. The ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) Study *, led by my friend Vincent Felitti, MD in San Diego, is one of the best examples. They studied 18,000 people who were having routine check-ups. You can read a summary here .
Adults who had Stress in Childhood (1)
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009Childhood stress can cast a long shadow. Thanksgiving week is an appropriate time to look at the issue since this holiday is often a challenge for my patients who are still in touch with their families of origin.
