Chronic Trauma

A general term for extended exposure to one or more forms of trauma, such as neglect, incest, intimate partner violence or torture. Periods of exposure may be continuous or episodic in nature. Linked to long-term impairments in functioning, negative educational, vocational, health and risk outcomes, and complex clinical adaptation including addictions, dissociation and the proposed complex trauma diagnoses for youth (DTD) and adults (CPTSD).