Grant: Project Grant

Childhood trauma, in the form of abuse or neglect, is considered as one of the most important risk factors for psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Yet, most adults who have undergone such experiences would be resilient. The immense interindividual variability observed in risk and adaptation trajectories following trauma remains largely misunderstood and calls for innovative studies of developmental processes that can shed light on the heterogeneity of mental health problems in adults who have experienced childhood trauma. Our general objective is to refine the construct of trauma resolution by incorporating sociocognitive, affective, and psychophysiological components, and to assess how these three dimensions help in understanding the interindividual variability in psychological functioning and DSM-5-TR disorders in 250 adults with a history of childhood trauma. Specifically, we aim to evaluate [Obj. 1.1] the independence of the three dimensions of trauma resolution (sociocognitive, affective, psychophysiological); then [Obj. 1.2] whether the sociocognitive, affective, and physiological dimensions vary according to trauma and participant characteristics; and finally [Obj. 2] whether different patterns of trauma resolution are associated with specific symptoms (internalizing and externalizing) and mental health disorders. By demonstrating the existence of heterogenous patterns of resolution of trauma, which we believe will respond to different treatments, the proposal is heading to a new model of personalized medicine for adults who experienced trauma. This is a significant avenue, as determining the optimal therapeutic approach for each patient may help to address the documented poor response to treatment among trauma-exposed adults with different mental health disorders.