Why Clinicians and Researchers Need a Definition of Attachment Trauma

November 10, 2024

Abstract
After the discovery at the end of the 19th century of the pathogenic power of traumatic developmental experiences, after 50 years of resounding denial of real trauma, after the rediscovery of the role of developmental trauma in psychopathology in general, today we risk the danger of pantraumatism: seeing trauma everywhere. This risk also stems from conceptual confusion about the definition of developmental trauma, confusion that is detrimental to the progress of clinical research on attachment trauma and to the development of therapeutic tools to treat the consequences of what is currently recognized as the main risk factor for all mental disorders. 

This presentation therefore aims to give as precise a definition as possible of attachment trauma as a severe and prolonged failure of the various innate purposes of the relationship with primary caregivers. Some pathogenetic processes activated by the attachment trauma and the psychopathological dimensions associated with these pathogenetic processes will be described: a) arousal dysregulation; b) loss of integration and difficulties regulating emotions and behavior; c) passive defense reactions and symptoms of detachment; c) pathological segregation of self-states and manifestations of dissociation; d) development of dysfunctional pathogenic beliefs and the establishment of pathological trait emotions such as traumatic shame and guilt; e) alterations in implicit relational knowing and related relational problems; f) state and trait alterations of mentalization; g) deficit development of the epistemic trust. 

The clinical approach to traumatic attachment imposes a change in clinical reasoning with a shift from a view centered on classical diagnostic categories to a dimensional and syndromic one. In this clinical perspective, the presence of the attachment trauma in the patient's history, even when it is not explicitly reported, can be inferred from the very beginning of treatment from the analysis of psychopathological manifestations, regardless of the psychiatric disorder or problem presented by the patient. Finally, the therapeutic implications arising from this approach will be discussed

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Discuss the operative definition of attachment trauma    
  • Recognize the clinical manifestations of attachment trauma
  • Apply knowledge about the pathogenetic processes of attachment trauma to therapy  
  • Explain the major pathogenic processes involved in attachment trauma
  • Distinguish disintegration from detachment and dissociation
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
08/01/2024
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
11/10/2024 - 10:00am EST
Event ends: 
11/10/2024 - 11:30am EST
Part of: 
Attachment and the Therapeutic Relationship - Day Two
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Benedetto Farina, MD, PhD
Benedetto Farina is a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation and of Clinical Neuropsychiatry. He teaches at several schools of psychotherapy and clinical masters in Europe. He was winner of the Richard P. Kluft Award for Journal of Trauma and Dissociation 2015 Best Article. He is the author of more than a hundred articles published in peer reviewed journals, books and book chapters. After graduating in medicine and specializing in psychiatry, he undertook training in psychotherapy under the guidance of the esteemed Giovanni Liotti. Over the course of about twenty years of collaboration and friendship with Dr. Liotti, they have deepened the study of various topics related to the impact of attachment trauma on the psychopathology of dissociation and psychotherapeutic approaches to address the clinical outcomes of developmental trauma. During this period, he developed a strong interest in the effectiveness of integrated multisetting treatments. Over the past fifteen years, his research activity has extended to neurophysiological markers associated with trauma and dissociation. In particular, he has devoted himself to the study of alterations in functional cortical connectivity present in patients with developmental trauma-related disorders. 

He conducts research at the European University of Rome where he is full professor of psychopathology and psychotherapy, and collaborates with many research institutions in Italy, France, USA, Spain. In addition to maintaining the clinical activity of his private practice, he also acts as supervisor for several mental health centers of the Italian National Health Service and teaches in several specialization schools and master courses in Italy and worldwide.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
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Early registration ends September 30, 2024 at 5:00 PM US Eastern Time. Prices will increase for emerging professional and professional/retired rates at that time by $50. 

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Social Workers: Should social workers have a specific grievance, these grievances will be addressed by D. Michael Coy, LICSW. In situations where the social worker would have a conflict of interest, then, Christine Forner, MSW will review the grievance.

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