Neurofeedback for Developmental Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Developmental Trauma is a term coined by Bessel van der Kolk who has campaigned for such a diagnosis to be recognised. It is the childhood version of Complex Trauma, or Complex PTSD.
Bessel van der Kolk is an ardent promoter of Neurofeedback for trauma.
You can find an excellent description of Developmental Trauma created by Beacon House here.
It is different from so-called ‘simple’ PTSD in that the patient has suffered long-term traumatic stress, which could include sexual abuse (especially child sexual abuse), physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, torture or psychological torture.
Neurofeedback is particularly suitable for Developmental Trauma; we have protocols to both process the trauma (whether consciously remembered or not), and improve brain regulation to address the long-term symptoms of trauma.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Vince Felitti at US Health insurer and provider Kaiser Permanente discovered the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and adult health problems. In following up the drop-out rates from obesity clinics, he discovered a high proportion had been sexually abused as children, and weight gain was a strategy for self-protection1. Kaiser Permanente (a US health insurer and provider) subsequently conducted the ACE Study of > 17,000 participants2.
The current ACE Questionnaire, identifying the experiences defined as ACEs, is replicated here. Caution should be taken by any reader with PTSD as there is risk of re-traumatisation by reading this.
There is much more detail in our dedicated pages about Developmental Trauma and ACEs.
1Felitti, Vincent J. “Childhood sexual abuse, depression, and family dysfunction in adult obese patients: a case control study.” Southern medical journal 86.7 (1993): 732-736.
2Felitti VJ, et al., “Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine 14.4 (1998):245-258.
How Neurofeedback can help with the effects of Trauma
Neurofeedback was first used to help symptoms of PTSD in the 1980’s. This study published in 1991 compared two groups of Vietnam veteran PTSD sufferers – one received Neurofeedback brain training and the other didn’t. The Neurofeedback group showed significantly greater reduction in symptoms. 2.5 years after the training, PTSD symptoms had returned in only 20% of the Neurofeedback group, compared with 100% of the control group:
This 2009 paper describes two more case studies – a Canadian veteran of the Bosnia conflict and a Marine veteran of Iraq, and includes SPECT scans of the brains of one of the clients showing changes in the brain before and after brain training:-
In the USA, a network of hundreds of Neurofeedback therapists are now offering treatment to US Veterans under the banner Homecoming for Veterans.
This video explains more about Neurofeedback and PTSD:
Neurofeedback for PTSD/Developmental Trauma
The objective with Neurofeedback training for PTSD/Developmental Trauma is the same as that for psychotherapy or EMDR – to process the trauma so it no longer affects you in the same way. The difference is that Neurofeedback offers a way to do this without having to talk about uncomfortable feelings or reliving them.
Neurofeedback training for PTSD would start with a training protocol to calm the client physically and mentally. We would then move onto what we call Alpha-Theta training (as described in the study above) which encourages the client to enter a very relaxed state. In this state, memories of the trauma (whether consciously remembered or not) are processed so they no longer have the emotions usually attached to them, and the memory is ‘reprogrammed’ as a historic one.
The number of sessions required would depend on the severity of the symptoms and how well the client responds to Neurofeedback, but we would recommend 20 sessions.
Read Adam’s story of how Neurofeedback with BrainTrainUK helped him overcome severe Developmental Trauma.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by being exposed to a traumatic event, which is then often relived after the event, with feelings like guilt, isolation and irritability, difficultly sleeping and concentrating. Various events can lead to different traumas. From being bitten by a dog, an accident, to war, working as first responder collecting human remains or police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse. What these events have in common, is that each person is ‘exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence’; one of the criteria of a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. The DSM-5 provides additional information regarding this criteria:
Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence |
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Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s) |
Witnessing , in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others |
Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend |
Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) |
What About Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) ?
There are two diagnostic authorities. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) which is curremtly at version 11. ICD-11 now includes Complex PTSD as a formal diagnosis. ICD-11 is not in widespread use in the UK NHS currently. The other is the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which is currently at version 5-TR. DSM-5-TR does not currently recognise Complex PTSD as a diagnosis distinct from PTSD.
For trauma that occurred in childhood or adolescence it is also known as Developmental Trauma Disorder, a term coined by Bessel van der Kolk who has long campaigned for such a diagnosis to be recognised and who is an ardent promoter of Neurofeedback for trauma.
You can find an excellent description of Developmental Trauma created by Beacon House here.
It is different from so-called ‘simple’ PTSD in that the patient has suffered long-term traumatic stress, which could include sexual abuse (especially child sexual abuse), physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, torture or psychological torture. Trauma at a young age can also disrupt normal brain development.
Neurofeedback is particularly suitable for Developmental Trauma or C-PTSD with protocols to both process the trauma (whether consciously remembered or not), and improve brain regulation to address the long-term symptoms of trauma, such as hyper-vigilance.
At BrainTrainUK we have extensive experience working with adults and young people with Developmental Trauma.
Symptoms of PTSD
Everyone suffering from PTSD experiences different symptoms at various levels, regardless of the nature of the traumatic event(s) or the age of being exposed. The symptoms can appear immediately after the event, or many years after. DSM-5 identifies four different types of symptoms for two age groups; children 6 years and youngsters and adults, adolescents, and children older than 6 years. The symptoms are all associated with the traumatic event(s) and begin or worsen after the traumatic event(s) occurred. The symptoms for adults, adolescents, and children older than 6 years:
Intrusion symptoms |
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Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event |
Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the traumatic event(s) |
Dissociative reactions (flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring |
Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s) |
Persistent avoidance of stimuli |
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Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event |
Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (e.g. people, places) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s) |
Negative alterations in cognitions and mood |
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Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) |
Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world |
Persistent distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame himself/herself or others |
Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame) |
Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities |
Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others |
Persistent inability to experience positive emotions |
Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity |
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Irritable behaviour and angry outbursts expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects |
Reckless or self-destructive behaviour |
Hypervigilance |
Exaggerated startle response |
Problems with concentration |
Sleep disturbance |
It’s quite normal to experience some of these symptoms when you are exposed to a traumatic event, but usually they subside. When they continue for more than a month a PTSD diagnosis may be made.
Causes of PTSD
It is believed that PTSD symptoms persist when the sufferer has not yet come to terms with the emotions the initial trauma caused. Because the memories and emotions can be strong and painful, it is natural to want to avoid them, especially for people who are not used to or comfortable with acknowledging their emotions. But the further they are pushed away, the worse the PTSD will get. By coming to terms with the trauma you can also regain your sense of control so that the memories of the trauma are no longer controlling your life.
Treatment for PTSD
Effective approaches to PTSD/Developmental Trauma can include talking therapies to help you to come to terms with the trauma. However, for many people who have suffered trauma, talking therapies are not suitable. This may be because they have no conscious memory of the trauma, so they can’t talk about them, even though their unconscious or bodies have stored them (as described in The Body Keeps The Score). Or they may find that to think about the trauma, never mind talk about it to a stranger, is too overwhelming to contemplate. Teenagers very often find it hard to talk about difficult subjects with anyone, never mind a stranger, and won’t engage with talking therapies.
Neurofeedback overcomes all of these issues. Whatever the trauma, we don’t need to know the details, and the client doesn’t have to know, think or talk about the details either. Often clients who were previously unable to contemplate talking therapy, after having neurofeedback they are able to have talking therapy and find it helpful.
Other techniques to deal with PTSD are to process the trauma so that it no longer has the same triggering effect. The best treatment for PTSD helps you to come to terms with the trauma, usually through psychotherapy. Another technique that is relatively new in the UK is Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), which involves moving the eyes from side to side whilst reliving the trauma. It is believed that the distressing memories are ‘frozen’ on a neurological level, and the therapy ‘unfreezes’ the memories by unblocking the information processing system. The technique sounds simple but EMDR therapists need a high level of skill to help you through the process. Sometimes antidepressant medication will be prescribed to help with the symptoms, but it is acknowledged that this will not address the root causes of the recurring PTSD symptoms.
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