Prenatal Experiences, Postnatal Echoes: Is Complex PTSD related to our Pre/Perinatal trauma?

Abstract

Background.

Childhood abuse and other developmentally unfavorable, interpersonal traumas may place individuals at risk of experiencing not only Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but also impairments in emotional, cognitive, physiological, and relational self-regulation, collectively known as “disorders of extreme stress not otherwise specified” (DESNOS). While much literature exists on PTSD as the psychological response to violence, there is a notable lack of research connecting the symptoms manifested across childhood and adulthood to pre/perinatal or primal experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore possible links between the maternal environment (conception, gestation, and birth) and the quality of life, health trends, disease predisposition, and behavioral patterns related to PTSD/DESNOS in later life by analyzing psychotherapy notes of clients' narratives collected during psychotherapy sessions.

Methods: A qualitative archival study was conducted based on the first author’s private archives, which consist of psychotherapist session notes from 2000 to 2018. The narratives of 42 participants were evaluated, and deductive content analysis was used for data analysis.

Results: Framework-based analysis and clients' narratives support the notion of a connection between pre/perinatal trauma and PTSD/DESNOS symptoms.

Conclusion: Our findings describe the deep interconnection between early life events and adult well-being, challenging conventional notions of trauma etiology. These insights have far-reaching implications for therapeutic interventions, policy development, and our understanding of human experience.