Psychobiology of Attachment and Trauma

Course overview

This course is based upon material published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry and is available as an open-access article. Attachment refers to a psychobiological principle that is deeply rooted in evolutionary development; it is thought to contribute a major advantage in the survival of the social group. Within individual development it indicates a primary motivational system that guides the initial transactions between mother and baby and furthermore mediates affective attunement and regulation. Psychosocial learning, in close interaction with genetics and epigenetics, also develops a decisive foundation for further brain development of the infant. Finally, the attachment pattern established forms an enduring, relational context for later affective, cognitive, and social development of the child. As an unconsciously active matrix for future personal relationships it has a particular impact on the comprehensive psychological functions of empathy and mentalization. Early adverse and traumatic experiences or major emotional neglect may lead to different levels of security versus insecurity or disorientation-disorganization of the attachment pattern that corresponds to characteristic features of neurobiological regulation. This course on attachment and trauma is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their skills in working with trauma and attachment. The course material includes a literature review of interventions and theory. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. Authors: Lahousen, Unterrainer and Kapfhammer Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the psychobiology of attachment and trauma. Specifically, a professional will be able to: Describe attachment from an evolutionary perspective. Identify the psychobiology of early attachment. Describe the effects of oxytocin for the development of close social bonding. Citation: Lahousen, T., Unterrainer, H. F., & Kapfhammer, H. P. (2019). Psychobiology of attachment and trauma some general remarks from a clinical perspective. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 914.