Unseen Consequences: Research Linking Childhood Trauma & Epigenetics-View Presentation Slides

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The document summarizes a presentation from the American Psychiatric Association on the topic of childhood trauma's impact on epigenetics, led by Stacy Drury, MD, PhD. The event, designated for continuing education credit, offers insights into how early life adversity can lead to lasting biological changes detectable across generations. Key subjects include the developmental consequences of trauma, epigenetic modifications, cellular aging, inflammation, and potential alterations in physiological stress responses.<br /><br />The presentation outlines several important aspects, such as the role of childhood trauma in altering genetic expression and how those changes can manifest throughout an individual's life and across generations. It discusses the concept of biological embedding, where trauma is incorporated into biological processes, potentially affecting offspring and leading to a higher risk of developmental psychopathologies.<br /><br />Significant emphasis is placed on understanding how timing and types of early maltreatment result in different epigenetic responses. This includes sex-specific effects and the biological consequences of adversity, highlighting the importance of targeted research on treatment effects and how interventions may alter or mitigate these epigenetic outcomes.<br /><br />Additionally, the document mentions future directions for research, emphasizing the need for integrating multiple epigenetic markers, understanding normal epigenetic changes, and building biological models to assess the impact of evidence-based treatments. The presentation concludes with a call for robust measurement techniques and a comprehensive understanding of how early adversity and subsequent treatments influence biological and psychological health.<br /><br />The document also includes procedural aspects of the event, such as how participants can engage through Q&A and access captions, and provides a brief disclosure of funding sources. Lastly, it announces an upcoming webinar focusing on psychopharmacology and schizophrenia treatment.

Keywords

childhood trauma

epigenetics

Stacy Drury

biological embedding

developmental psychopathologies

epigenetic modifications

cellular aging

physiological stress responses

evidence-based treatments

psychopharmacology