Doctors have long known that childhood trauma often plays out again in adulthood. But new studies suggest that early adversity actually affects physical health across a lifetime. The study is called ACEs–the Adverse Childhood Experience Scale, which lists ten stressful and traumatic events that can happen to children. Proponents of the study are calling on pediatricians to consider life events as they diagnose and treat children, with the goal of improving adult health and longevity by helping the children recover from early trauma.
Produced by Emmy® winner Beth Dolinar, the documentary shares the stories of those whose lives were forever changed by childhood trauma, and shows how the Pittsburgh medical community is working to reverse the trend.