Trauma abuse is present in all but 10% of all cases found in psychiatric wards and those suffering with any mental health issues. Trauma is defined as an experience that produces psychological or physical injury or pain. Patients that present with substance abuse and duel diagnosis can only attain positive results in treatment after issues of trauma are addressed. Trauma is often the primary issue with other obsessive compulsive behavior symptomatic of this central problem. When addiction or eating disorders are diagnosed they are treated as the primary disease and rightly so due to the life threatening aspects of these conditions. Relapse can be the result if the trauma goes untreated.
Trauma abuse can be treated once uncovered and the proper help and support are administered. The environment where therapy takes place must be relaxed and patient has to feel safe and nurtured. Most patients who are dealing with abuse issues feel shame and often think they are responsible for the abusive experience. Through individual and group sessions patients will develop a new understanding of those events and become more accepting of who they are and positive about their future.
The statistics involving victims of abuse that suffer with mental health issues and become with criminal behavior are staggering. Of the women in eating disorder treatment 90% report incidents childhood sexual, physical abuse and neglect. Adolescent males that have suffered some sort of abuse are over 80% more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system and almost always perpetuate the cycle of violence with their offspring or future spouse. Sometimes all it takes is asking the right questions, understanding the patient my not be willing to initiate conversation about painful events.