Debbie Akinfe, a Masters Student in Psychology at the University of East London is undertaking a research project that aims to explore the possibility of a link between childhood trauma to autoimmune and inflammatory long-term conditions in adults.
Past and present research on the outcomes of adverse life events in childhood frequently focus on mental health and associated conditions in adulthood such as depression, ADHD, PSTD, OCDs, autism, schizophrenia and psychosis.
However, the impact of childhood adverse life events on people’s physical health and particularly the existence of a potential connection to rheumatic/autoimmune disease in adulthood remains to be investigated.
Information from this study could help develop appropriate support and tailored interventions for people with autoimmune/rheumatic diseases in coping with their conditions.
In addition, it could inform the design and implementation of potential preventative measures for people who have experienced childhood adverse events and have a family history of autoimmune/rheumatic disease but have not received a diagnosis yet.
The hope is to recruit a significant number of people (more than 100) who suffer from any autoimmune/rheumatic disease which could provide a framework of their childhood experience and how it may affect their experience of living with an autoimmune/rheumatic disease in adulthood.
The study involves completing online questionnaires and should take approximately 30 minutes. It is anonymous and all data will remain confidential.
If you are interested in participating, please click here:
uelpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/j...
If you have any queries, please contact Deborah - u1409732@uel.ac.uk
Childhood trauma/chronic stress - root cause?
You have an autoimmune disease
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