Understanding Trauma's Impact on Personality Disorders

This chapter explores the influence of early life trauma on the development of personality disorders, emphasizing the importance of identifying hidden traumas like abuse and neglect. It examines how specific types of trauma correlate with various disorders, particularly focusing on the effects of neglect and the prevalence of sexual abuse in borderline and histrionic personality disorders. The discussion also highlights the complexities of memory regarding trauma, the protective role of dissociation, and the critical responsibilities of therapists in facilitating patient narratives.