The Center for Collaborative Study of Trauma, Health Equity, and Neurobiology

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) 

have been demonstrated by 100+ research studies to be the MOST powerful determinant of child AND adult health.   Watch this THEN Video to learn:

– What are ACEs?
– Results of the landmark 1998 Felitti-Anda study of 17,000 people
– What is a DOSE-RESPONSE relationship between childhood trauma and disease later in life?
– What key factors were left out of the 1998 ACEs study?
– A Trauma-Sensitive approach to discussing childhood adversity

Video on ACEs (11 minutes)  

Board Certified Integrative Medicine-Family Medicine physician and THEN Co-Founder, Dr. Audrey Stillerman discusses:

  • How our current and historical experiences as individuals affect our biology, and
  • Chart the course of our growth, development and lifespan.
RESOURCES

The original 1998 Felitti-Anda Study of ACEs:  Felitti V, Anda R, et.al.  Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults:  The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study.  Am J Prev Med.  1998

Anda, RF, Felitti VJ, et. al.  The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood.  A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology.  Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.  2006.  FREE FULL TEXT

ACEs Aware:  California program providing training and payment to Medi-Cal providers for ACE screening.  Established by the Office of the California Surgeon General, Nadine Burke Harris MD MPH.

Controversy about whether to “screen” patients for ACEs:

Hambrick EP, Brauner TW, Perry BD, Brandt K, Hofmeister C, Collins JO.  Beyond the ACE Score:  Examining relationships between timing of developmental adversity, relational health and developmental outcomes in children.  Arch Psychiatr Nurs 2019.

McLennan JD, MacMillan HL, Afifi TO.  Questioning the use of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) questionnaires.  Child Abuse and Neglect 2020.

VIDEO:  ACEs and the Impact on Child and Adult Illness

Pediatrician and the first Surgeon General for California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris explains how repeated stress (abuse, neglect, or having parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues) has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain.   (16 minute Video)

 

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