The Trauma Model

Excellent book on a subject. If you are interested how trauma influence health, this is a must read. You will find a trauma pyramide, explanations that trauma is, description of most common traumas, including perfectinostic parents, setting unrealistic expectations, physical, sexual abuse. This is a good read for someone who is interested in Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Trauma and abuse history is thoroughly explained and supported by research. Colin Ross describe his theory why SSRI are effective in treating various disorder and how trauma gradually develops in a human being by age 10, if this person grow up in abusive environment. He give some ideas about the way cognitive therapy is done to his patients and the way patients respond to it. The book is full of memories how his psychiatry training was done, which is a fun read. I've found Dr. Ross remind me Eric Bern the way he describe things and his sense of humour is fascinating. It is very compassionate book.

Although it is obvious that this book was written more for other physicians and workers in the mental health profession (the vocabulary is quite advanced to say the least), I found each new chapter held something in it to help me learn more about the effects of trauma and the different outcomes of a traumatic childhood. I, having Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) was relieved to read that I was not different in the fact that I had been diagnosed with almost everything and have been in and out of hospitals. I've also worked with the author's staff as well as his assistant and, although I'm not quite sure of my thoughts on his view of memories, I totally agree that memories are not the point. The point is that we wouldn't have problems if life had been bliss. I highly recommend this THICK book to anyone who, if they don't have a complex vocabulary, is willing to look up words as they go. (smile)

In this landmark work, Dr. Ross challenges the field of psychiatry to make a giant leap forward in the treatment of mental illness. After 21 years of carefully listening to patients and weighing scientific evidence, he has hit on what should now be obvious: trauma causes and/or contributes to most psychiatric disorders. This is especially true for comorbid (many diagnosies) patients. Just as a single disease can produce multiple physical symptoms, unresolved trauma can generate multiple diagnosies. He describes why the single gene-single disease and biomedical reductionist models don't work for psychiatry. He also points out many flaws in logic in the DSM IV diagnosies, making specific revision suggestions. His hypothesies will pique the curiosity of many reseachers and lead to many dissertations. He concludes if trauma therapy is added to medication for many patients, outcomes will be much improved. This is a must read for the serious mental health professional.