Re: Fwd: Question about the research re neurophysiological changes due to stress

["Graham Vimpani" <Graham.Vimpani@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Toni, Why don't you ask Bruce Perry or Alan Schore or Megan Gunnar these questions?
I suspect short sharp shocks like a frightening episode of abuse could be as dangerous as prolonged stress, fear and trauma.  Cortisol responses suggest that chronic low level stress, such as poor quality child care, has a significant impact on cortisol production - but how that actually ties in with changes in the stress response system's thermostatic setting, i'm not sure.
I think it would be a good dialogue to engage in with this group.
Graham

Professor Graham Vimpani AM
Clinical Chair
Kaleidoscope in Greater Newcastle
Hunter Children's Health Network
Locked Bag 1
Hunter Region Mail Centre
NSW.  2310
Australia
Head of the Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health
University of Newcastle

Phone +612 4921 3673
Fax +612 4921 3599
mobile 0408 484 427 
graham.vimpani@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
>>> Toni Cavanagh Johnson <tonicjohnson@mac.com> 12/10/08 9:11 AM >>>
I should have said that I am familiar with Perry's and others' work.   
I want to ask a few questions about this body of research.

Here is the question.

When researchers are discussing the effects of stress/trauma/domestic  
violence on children and referring to physiological or  
neurophysiological changes, what level of  stress/trauma/domestic  
violence are they referring to?  I have never seen it quantified.

My impression is that to cause long term neurobiological or  
neurophysiological changes in an individual it would have to be  
repeated over an extended period of time  (weeks?   months?) if the  
amount of stress (no medical evidence of physical harm) was a 3-4 on a  
10 point scale in a 2 year old child.  Anyone have any ideas?

Toni Cavanagh Johnson, Ph.D.
1101 Fremont Avenue, Suite 101
South Pasadena, California 91030
USA
Tel: 626-799-4522
FAX: 818-790-0139
toni@tcavjohn.com
www.tcavjohn.com




Begin forwarded message:

> From: Toni Cavanagh Johnson <toni@tcavjohn.com>
> Date: December 9, 2008 11:25:13 AM PST
> To: Child Maltreatment Researchers <child-maltreatment-research-l@list.cornell.edu 
> >
> Subject: Re: Question about the research re neurophysiological  
> changes due to stress
> Reply-To: Child Maltreatment Researchers <child-maltreatment-research-l@list.cornell.edu 
> >
>
> Is there someone I can contact who can answer questions about  
> neurophysiological changes due to stress?  I would appreciate your  
> expertise in this matter.
>
> Toni Cavanagh Johnson, Ph.D.
> 1101 Fremont Avenue, Suite 101
> South Pasadena, California 91030
> USA
> Tel: 626-799-4522
> FAX: 818-790-0139
> toni@tcavjohn.com
> www.tcavjohn.com
>