Are you familiar with intergenerational PTSD?

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:34:54 -0500

Traumatic childhood is a form of childhood PTSD? I would often lose my temper and have reactionary behavior this prevented me from being able to think methodical. I found out later I had intergenerational PTSD.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 9 at 2014 12:36 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:36:44 -0500

Do you have a reference I can read on?

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jan 9 at 2014 12:37 AM

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:37:18 -0500

For example while I was deployed I had repressed memories that became activated. I started remembering childhood trauma. I did not know at the time that my Father served in WWII, and my Grand Father was MIA for a year. This is a form of intergenerational PTSD. Your thoughts?

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jan 9 at 2014 12:41 AM

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:41:13 -0500

SSG Burns: I have done extensive research on this subject. <div class="abstract">  Among the adverse mental health consequences of childhood trauma is the risk related to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood. Other risk factors for PTSD, including parental trauma exposure and parental PTSD, can also contribute to the experience of child trauma. We examined associations between childhood trauma and PTSD in 51 adult children of Holocaust survivors and 41 comparison subjects, in consideration of parental trauma exposure and parental PTSD. We also examined these variables in relation to 24-hr urinary cortisol levels. Adult offspring of Holocaust survivors showed significantly higher levels of self-reported childhood trauma, particularly emotional abuse and neglect, relative to comparison subjects. The difference was largely attributable to parental PTSD. Self-reported childhood trauma was also related to severity of PTSD in subjects, and emotional abuse was significantly associated with 24-hr mean urinary cortisol secretion. We conclude that the experience of childhood trauma may be an important factor in the transmission of PTSD from parent to child. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]</div><div class="attribution">Hospital Collection</div>

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2014 12:48 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:48:19 -0500

Yes, I think this is so true. Without going into detail, I think I feel much of what my dad did. There are neurological issues that seem to run in the family.

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jan 9 at 2014 12:48 AM

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:48:50 -0500

http://drsharongalor.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/the-impact-of-ptsd-on-the-children-intergenerational-transmission-of-trauma/

The impact of PTSD on the children: Intergenerational transmission of trauma

Children who live with a traumatized parent are influenced by the PTSD symptoms that the parent displays at home. The emotional instability that comes with PTSD becomes embedded in the child. Tra...

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jan 9 at 2014 1:04 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 01:04:56 -0500

A firm believer in it, which you know since we have made similar exchanges on other threads.
But to think it goes down to the DNA in a single generation or two is a little presumptuous. I recognize environmental impacts on Extra-DNA chemistry and RNA which have been known to impact emotional stability and brain chemistry. Chemistry which can force suppressed genetic markers to the top in successive generations if not countered early enough with treatment.
An interesting study for intergenerational PTSD may be the history and cultures of reservation bound Native Americans and their persistent persecution by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. As children and Grandchildren of WW II, Korean and Vietnam wars, the problem is still relatively fresh in terms of an intergenerational aspect compared to the descendents of the "Indian" Wars.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2014 12:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 12:49:31 -0500

CPT Davis, thank you for sharing something so personal to you with the Rallypoint community. Never heard of intergenerational PTSD before.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 21 at 2014 3:07 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:07:15 -0500

CPT, very interesting, I did not know PTSD was intergenerational. Thanks for sharing.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 22 at 2014 10:17 AM

CMC Robert Young — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:17:29 -0500

Ma'am, this was a new term for me, but having read the other responses, I assume now that it is similar to personality disorders found in the children of alcoholic or drug addicted parents. Simply being reared in an environment where the dysfunctional behavior is prevalent, the child adopts it as "normal" behavior not recognizing that it is actually not typical. Am I drawing the appropriate conclusion?

Thanks for the information.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2014 12:58 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:58:28 -0400

Ma'am,
I recently wrote a paper on the effects of PTSD on Families. I posted it in a Google Doc if anyone is interested. I mostly focused on the impact a parent suffering from PTSD can have on a family.

https://docs.google.com/a/rallypoint.com/document/d/1rfDOvEBXyaanYUuvCqwq1eveJWH16-rsnE9mURmQf3w/edit

(Some of the formatting/spelling might have gotten messed up in the transition from word)

The Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on Families: How Foreign Wars Infiltrate the Home

The Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on Families: How Foreign Wars Infiltrate the Home Ryan McConville Boston University Written for Psychology of the Family with Professor Phillips at Boston University Abstract Post Traumatic Stress