Chapter 12. Trauma & Maltreatment

Question 1

Abuse narrative

Answer 1

A child’s account of his or her maltreatment experience that includes thoughts, feelings, and actions associated with the abuse or neglect; it is often shared with a caregiver

Question 2

Acute stress disorder

Answer 2

A DSM-5 disorder that is similar to PTSD but has a shorter duration requirement

Question 3

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study

Answer 3

A large, retrospective study that demonstrated an association between the number of adverse events in childhood and the likelihood of physical and mental health problems later in life

Question 4

Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC)

Answer 4

A treatment designed to improve attachment quality between parents and young children

Question 5

Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP)

Answer 5

A longitudinal study investigating the effects of institutionalization and later adoption on orphaned children; showed that RAD is likely caused by a lack of attachment to a caregiver in infancy

Question 6

Child neglect

Answer 6

An act or omission by a child’s parent or other caregiver that deprives the child of basic age-appropriate needs and thereby results, or has reasonable potential to result, in physical or psychological harm

Question 7

Child physical abuse

Answer 7

Nonaccidental physical injury to a child that is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or other individual who has responsibility for the child

Question 8

Child psychological abuse

Answer 8

Nonaccidental verbal or symbolic acts by a child’s parent or caregiver that result, or have reasonable potential to result, in significant psychological harm to the child

Question 9

Child sexual abuse

Answer 9

Any sexual act involving a child that is intended to provide sexual gratification to a parent, caregiver, or other individual who has responsibility for a child; includes sexual contact and noncontact exploitation

Question 10

Cognitive appraisal theory

Answer 10

A model for the development of anxiety disorders, PTSD, and mood disorders; asserts that the way people feel about situations depends on their evaluations of those situations

Question 11

Cognitive restructuring

Answer 11

A technique used in cognitive therapy in which the therapist gently challenges the child’s maladaptive beliefs that contribute to negative emotions

Question 12

Depersonalization

Answer 12

A dissociative symptom that involves feelings of detachment from one’s body

Question 13

Derealization

Answer 13

A dissociative symptom that involves distorted perceptions or sense of time

Question 14

Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED)

Answer 14

A DSM-5 disorder shown by infants or young children who repeatedly approach and interact with unfamiliar adults in a manner that is developmentally unexpected

Question 15

Emotional processing theory

Answer 15

Posits that emotions are organized in memory as cognitive networks consisting of a stimulus, a response, and a meaning; prolonged exposure and cognitive therapy can be used to reduce the intensity and intrusiveness of fear structures

Question 16

Escape or avoidance coping

Answer 16

Disengaging from a stressful situation and its behavioral, cognitive, and emotional consequences

Question 17

Experience-dependent process

Answer 17

An aspect of development that is believed to depend greatly on the duration, nature, and/or quality of environmental stimuli

Question 18

Experience-expectant process

Answer 18

An aspect of development that is believed to be biologically predisposed and relies only on the presence of minimal environmental stimuli

Question 19

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Answer 19

A neuroendocrine feedback system that connects the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal cortex; regulates the body’s delayed stress response

Question 20

Parent–child cognitive–behavioral therapy (PC-CBT)

Answer 20

An evidence-based treatment for youths who experience abuse or neglect and their caregivers; sessions focus on engagement, skill building, safety planning, and abuse clarification

Question 21

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Answer 21

A DSM-5 disorder that occurs following exposure to death, serious injury, or sexual violence; characterized by (1) intrusive symptoms, (2) avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, (3) negative alterations in thoughts or mood, and (4) alterations in arousal and reactivity that cause distress or impairment and last at least 1 month

Question 22

Problem-focused coping

Answer 22

Modifying or eliminating the conditions that gave rise to a psychosocial stressor or changing the perception of an experience in a way that reduces or neutralizes the problem

Question 23

Prolonged exposure therapy

Answer 23

An evidence-based treatment for older youths with PTSD that is based on emotional processing theory; children practice in vivo or imaginal exposure until their distress subsides

Question 24

Psychological first aid (PFA)

Answer 24

An evidence-based treatment for youths exposed to traumatic events; it emphasizes safety, self-efficacy, and social support immediately after the event

Question 25

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD)

Answer 25

A DSM-5 disorder shown by infants and children who display inhibited, emotionally withdrawn behavior toward caregivers, a failure to respond to comfort, and episodes of irritability/negative affect; associated with early social–emotional deprivation

Question 26

Safety plan

Answer 26

A strategy for dealing with future episodes of maltreatment; involves (1) identifying signs of potential abuse, (2) engaging in an immediate behavior to stay safe, and (3) going to a trusted adult for help

Question 27

Sexualized behaviors

Answer 27

Sexual behaviors that are developmentally atypical or inappropriate to the social context

Question 28

Social inhibition

Answer 28

A child’s capacity to control his or her impulses in social situations; impaired in many children with DSED

Question 29

Sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) axis

Answer 29

A neuroendocrine feedback system that connects the sympathetic nervous system with the adrenal medulla; regulates the body’s fight-or-flight response

Question 30

Trauma-informed care

Answer 30

An overarching approach to helping youths and families exposed to life-threatening events; emphasizes safety, support, education, emotion-recognition, trauma-processing, and hope

Question 31

Trauma-focused cognitive–behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

Answer 31

An evidence-based treatment for PTSD in which therapists (1) help children gradually recall traumatic experiences, (2) use relaxation skills to cope with negative affect, and (3) identify and challenge cognitive distortions

Question 32

Trauma narrative

Answer 32

A progressively more detailed description of traumatic experiences; may consist of a story, poem, or other creative work that the child can share with others

Question 33

Traumatic event

Answer 33

A psychosocial stressor that involves actual or threatened death, serious physical injury, or sexual violation

Question 34

Traumatic sexualization

Answer 34

The development of anxiety, fear, disgust, or other negative emotions associated with one’s sexuality