Implicazioni neurobiologiche del trauma e dell'EMDR: Nuove evidenze da uno studio di hdEEG sul processamento neurale delle emozioni nei bambini con trauma complesso

ABSTRACT: Theoretical background: Neuroimaging research has extensively investigated
neurobiological correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Findings
from these studies have identified hyper-reactivity of the amygdalae with acquisition of
fear responses, and impairment of the medial prefrontal cortex in properly regulating fear
extinction, that could account for increased trauma-related symptoms with traumatic reminders.,
As diagnosis for adult onset trauma, PTSD is often applied to traumatized children
as well. Nevertheless, PTSD diagnosis fails to account for the complex symptomatology
that emerges following early chronic interpersonal traumatization, that occurs primarily
within the caregiving system and whose consequences are instead more fully
described by the diagnostic construct of "complex trauma". Early traumatization exerts
a deleterious impact on children's abilities to recognize facial emotions and regulate inner
emotional states. Neuroscience research has provided compelling evidence for the effectiveness
of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in restoring
affective regulation in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients. However, the
effectiveness of EMDR on emotion processing of children with complex trauma has yet
to be explored. Aim: The present contribution aims at illustrating the recent findings from
neuroscience research on PTSD and EMDR, shedding new light on the efficacy of EMDR
on neural processing of emotions in children with complex trauma. Methodology:
After presenting the limitations of DSM-IV-TR criteria in the diagnosis of PTSD in childhood,
we will introduce the diagnostic construct of "complex trauma", particularly considering
its effects on children's emotional regulation. We will then provide an overview
of scientific literature on neurobiological correlates of PTSD and EMDR, and present a
high-density Electroencephalography (hdEEG) study where we investigated the effects of
EMDR on brain responses to adult emotions in children with histories of early maltreatment.
Critical discussion and conclusions: Trauma exerts a deleterious impact on the
anatomy and functionality of specific cerebral areas associated with the emotional response
to traumatic reminders as well as to the onset of psychopathological outcomes.
Traumatic experiences have clinical relevance especially during childhood, since they alter trajectories of brain development, decreasing the functionality of cerebral regions related to emotion processing. Findings from our hdEEG study provide evidence for the effectiveness
of EMDR in restoring affect regulation in children, promoting the cognitive
processing of emotional stimuli that resemble traumatic events.

Tipo Pubblicazione: 
Articolo
Author or Creator: 
Trentini C
Pagani M
Publisher: 
Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore, Roma , Italia
Source: 
Infanzia e adolescenza (Testo stamp.) 14 (2015): 135–150.
info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Trentini C, Pagani M/titolo:Implicazioni neurobiologiche del trauma e dell'EMDR: Nuove evidenze da uno studio di hdEEG sul processamento neurale delle emozioni nei bambini con trauma complesso/doi:/rivista:Infanzia e adolescenza
Date: 
2015
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/365887
Language: 
Ita
ISTC Author: 
Ritratto di Marco Pagani
Real name: