Clinical Topics & Methods Category

The Neuroscience of Trauma

1.5 CE Hour
2 members have taken this course
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About the Course

This workshop will present four papers dealing with a variety of topics on the neuroscience of trauma. This presentation will cover the transfer of self-referential and episodic autobiographical memory across amnesic identities in dissociative identity disorder, presenting results from studies on the transfer of episodic self-referential memories across identities. Also addressed are the areas of progress in the connection of trauma therapy and neuroscience, of which we both need to be more aware and to explore resources, as well as how to integrate them into treatment. Disruption of the autonomic nervous system in adult survivors of childhood trauma is presented in a study examining the sexual function problems in these populations. Also discussed is the retuning of the autonomic nervous system in response to threat. This study points to the need for research to investigate how trauma induced returning of autonomic function provides a neural platform on which loss of purpose is experienced.

This course is based on the recorded webinar, The Neuroscience of Trauma created by Martin Dorahy, PhD et al in 2019.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Apr 2019

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Martin Dorahy, PhD

Martin Dorahy, PhD is a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Canterbury. He was president of the ISSTD in 2017.

Joan Turkus, MD

Joan A. Turkus, M.D. maintains a consulting and clinical practice in psychiatry and traumatology in McLean, Virginia. She is the Medical Director, TraumaSci: Complex Trauma Disorders Program at Dominion/HC A Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia and Co-Founder/past Medical Director of The Center: Posttraumatic Disorders Program at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, D.C. Dr. Turkus has years of experience in the trauma field and maintains a national profile with teaching and consultation. She is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in pharmacy and graduated from The George Washington University School of Medicine with honors. She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, of which she is a Past President. She has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cornelia Wilbur Award for clinical contributions, and a Distinguished Achievement Award by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. She is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Psychiatry and the American Board of Forensic Psychiatry.

Jacek Kolacz, PhD

Dr. Jacek Kolacz is a developmental neuropsychologist who studies how life experiences shape biological systems, psychological well-being, and physical health over time. His work at the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at the Kinsey Institute examines biobehavioral pathways that are sensitive to disruption by sexual violence, their effects on mental and physical health, and their influence on relationships and social interactions. This research will be used to identify factors that confer risk and resilience for sexual trauma survivors and inform new clinical intervention strategies.

Course Creator

Sandi Cardaman

Sandi Cardaman has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for more than 15 years. She has worked with eating disorders, domestic violence and clients who are working with the dependency system.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Describe the latest research findings on inter-identity amnesia in DID with regard to self-referential and episodic autobiographical memory.
  2. 2 Interpret the role of physiological function in the experience of purpose in life
  3. 3 Recognize how client loss of purpose after trauma may be related to their physiology
  4. 4 Describe two possible applications of neuroscience to trauma therapy.
  5. 5 Recognize how client sexual dysfunction after trauma may be related to their physiology

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Sandi Cardaman – None to report.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

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