A Soul Laid Bare by Trauma

Abstract

During treatment, most patients share their traumatic experiences, which can be a precipitating factor in the development of various psychiatric disorders. In numerous studies, traumatic experience has been highlighted as a possible etiological factor in the development of different personality disorders. Traumatic experiences in developmental stages of personality can result in disturbances in the ability to maintain feelings of security and individual identity in adulthood. Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine the dimension of trauma's impact on overall personality sensitivity and the inability to achieve individuation, separation, and overall personality cohesion. The most prevalent studies on the traumatic impact on personality development are related to borderline personality disorder (BPD). They point to the existence of a combination of genetic and environmental factors in the development of BPD, particularly the combination of biological vulnerability and exposure to traumatic experiences during childhood. Developing preventive programs and initiating psychotherapy in a timely manner, along with the use of contemporary pharmacotherapeutic treatment algorithms, can protect individuals at high risk of developing disorders or minimize disorder symptoms later in the lives of those affected.

Keywords: borderline personality disorder; preventive programs; psychotherapy; trauma