Therapy with Caregivers Found to Slow Biological Aging in Traumatized Children

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) shows that for young children who have experienced considerable trauma, psychotherapy sessions with caregivers can help prevent major diseases later in life. The study reveals a biological advantage of child-parent dyadic therapy, representing a significant advancement in our knowledge of the long-term health effects of early intervention.

Understanding Of Age Acceleration and Its Effects

Researchers at UCSF investigated how dyadic therapy affected a biomarker known as “age acceleration,” which shows the difference between chronological and biological age. People who have suffered trauma in their early years usually have an “epigenetic clock” that runs quicker, which increases their risk of developing diseases like asthma, cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Researchers compared two groups of traumatized 2- to 6-year-old children from the Bay Area, and discovered that both groups initially displayed comparable rates of biological age acceleration.

Dr. Alicia Lieberman, the director of UCSF’s Child Trauma Research Program and co-author of the study, created the Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) program, which lasted up to 20 weekly sessions. Following CPP, children showed less age acceleration than those who did not undergo CPP. Dr. Nicole Bush, senior author and chief of UCSF’s Division of Developmental Medicine, pointed out that even minute biochemical changes can have a significant effect on long-term health outcomes.

Advocating for Accessible Child-Parent Therapies

Bush stated, “These results strengthen the case for ensuring that families who suffer trauma and stress can access child-parent therapies to improve mental and physical health.” The study’s emphasis on populations frequently exposed to greater rates of trauma is shown by the fact that more than 80% of the treatment group and two-thirds of the comparison group were Latinx. Lieberman emphasized the importance of these results by pointing out that individuals in the intervention group had exceptionally high levels of trauma.

According to the study, children who had four or more traumatic experiences before the age of eighteen are more likely to grow up to have one of the top ten causes of mortality. As a result of their children’s difficult behavior, their parents, who had experienced an average of 13 traumatic events, found it difficult to control their emotions and behavior.

Strengthening the Bond Between Parents and Children

Parents can better understand their children’s behaviors and experiences by using toys as therapists in CPP to help children process emotions and experiences related to their trauma. By facilitating constructive social connections, this approach improves the relationship between parents and children. According to Lieberman, trauma worsens when it affects both the parent and the child. We use group therapy to work on mending the adult and child’s bond as well as their past trauma. She stated that relationships are crucial for good health early on in life.

The Key Is Early Intervention

Interventions before the age of five can have a major impact on a child’s physical and mental health in later life, according to psychologist Dr. Allie Sullivan, co-first author of the study. For pediatric Medi-Cal patients, the California Department of Health Treatment Services has implemented benefits that assist family therapy and dyadic treatment. This treatment is given by Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, which also provides technical support to medical practices around the state on how to use this therapy and get paid for it.

The Economic and Social Advantages of Therapy-Based Alternatives

In treating family trauma, the researchers anticipate that this study will highlight the social, ethical, and financial benefits of therapy-based alternatives to pharmaceuticals. “Biological repair that may benefit mental and physical health across the life span can result from something as simple as bringing families together, acknowledging the trauma, and creating a setting of emotional safety and healing,” Bush stated. 

To lessen the long-term effects of trauma, this study, which was published on August 14 in Psychological Science, highlights the significance of early and accessible psychotherapy for caregivers and children. It also advocates for the wider adoption and support of such therapeutic interventions.