Positive Approaches Journal, Volume 13, Issue 1

Volume 13 ► Issue 1 ► June 2024

Data Discoveries

The goal of Data Discoveries is to present useful data using new methods and platforms that can be customized.

Trauma can be described as a response to a circumstance, event, or series of events that an individual experienced as stressful, frightening, or physically or emotionally distressing.¹ People may experience these events themselves or they may witness them happening to others. These circumstances can present coping challenges.² Trauma can happen in response to serious injuries or violence, and it can affect individuals, families, groups, communities, and generations. Trauma can occur because of natural disasters (e.g., storms and earthquakes) or it can be caused by other people (e.g., war, violence, accidents). Some people feel the effects of trauma immediately while others do not feel the effects for days, weeks, or months. Trauma can affect both physical and mental health.

Trauma can be caused by a single event, repeated events, or sustained and chronic events and can cause emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and developmental reactions. Most of these are normal responses to trauma, and very few meet the criteria for mood and anxiety disorders.² Trauma can cause emotional symptoms such as increased anger, anxiety, and sadness, and physical responses like sleep, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues.² Individuals who have experienced trauma may also engage in self-injurious and compulsive behaviors or attempt to self-medicate with alcohol or other substances to cope with their trauma.² Depression and avoidance (avoiding memories, thoughts, or feelings associated with trauma) are also common in individuals who have experienced trauma.²

From a data perspective, trauma is difficult to measure because people experience it so differently and most studies have sought to understand types of trauma more qualitatively.³ While data are limited, autistic people may be more likely to experience potentially traumatic events (PTE) and to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) compared to individuals without autism.^4,5 Preliminary findings suggest that trauma-related disorders may be more common in autistic people compared to non-autistic people.⁵ However, more research is needed to understand the prevalence of traumatic stress and PTSD in this population. Nearly 45% of autistic individuals have “probable PTSD symptoms,” which is 10 times higher than those without autism.⁷ Autistic people may experience sensory differences, which may make it more difficult to cope with stressors. Additionally, there is evidence that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have greater difficulty reporting traumatic events, and their symptoms may present differently compared to people without IDD.^8,9 These differences emphasize the importance of trauma screening for autistic people, and for the development of assessments that consider autistic characteristics. 

Research suggesting a higher prevalence of trauma among autistic individuals underscores the importance of trauma-informed care and resilience-building. Identifying PTSD and trauma-related symptoms among individuals with IDD can be challenging for providers. There is an urgent need for multidimensional and individualized assessments to support providers in recognizing PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms in individuals with IDD. 

Understanding trauma and building resilience skills are critical first steps in developing a supportive service system for the IDD population. The ASERT resource dashboard below provides key resources for providers, individuals, families, and communities.