Impact of treating childhood trauma of an adult patient using rational emotive behavioral therapy in order to significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety

Background of the Study

With medicine and healthcare as a major focal point in the lives of humans, the purpose of this study is defining and analyzing how treating complex childhood traumas of an adult patient, significantly reduced her symptoms of depression and anxiety. Undertaking this study will help explore how childhood exposure to sexual and physical abuse leads to the development of depressive and anxiety disorders later in life.

In addition to this, the kind of chronic diseases and disorders which develop in human being will be analyzed and individually discussed, due to not only neurobiological changes that occurred in the developing brain, but also due to the development of interpersonal, emotional and cognitive dysfunctions.

In the design of the study, the hypothetical claim revolves around the impact childhood traumas have on the psycho-emotional development of humans. This phenomenon has been supported with the use of a variety of model theories, such as contemporary attachment theory, object relation theory, trauma theory, and cognitive theory of trauma, of depression and of anxiety and emotion theory.

In addition to the above, the hypothesis shall also address and highlight the effects of childhood trauma on brain chemistry and their effects on an adult patient. These hypotheses will aid towards an understanding for the client's present issues.

My major focus shall base upon the implementation of the Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and how does this theory aid in the reduction of anxiety & symptoms of depression by addressing the sequel of childhood trauma.

For this study, only one participant has been undertaken for the research, which is a 32 year-old White American female, married with two children, who was self-referred through her Employee Assistance Program. Her presenting symptomatology conformed to the following DSM-IV diagnoses: Major Depressive Disorder (296. 21), Anxiety Disorder NOS (300.00), Relational Problem (V62.81).

Although, the treatment will be conceptualized utilizing a stage based approach of treatment of trauma which has three components that are establishment of safety, remembrance and mourning and finally reconnection, the hypothesis that is offered in this case study regarding treatment, is:

Hi: Addressing childhood traumas, using the combination of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Emotional Focused (REBT) Therapy, significantly reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety in a female adult victim of childhood sexual and physical abuse”.

Participants involved: Information of the client

The patient is a 32 year-old Caucasian female who has been married for more than seven years and has an eight-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. Regarding her family of origin, the patient gave the following information: She is the second born of a family of two siblings. Her older brother was born as a result of incest. According the patient, her mother at age sixteen, was sexually abused by her own brother.

The patient reported coming from a dysfunctional family where there was no stable father's figure. Not only the patient did not know who ...