I just finished my thesis paper for my MJC class.  I would like to share it in parts her.  Please share your thoughts with me.

7 DEC 2013

Adopted Children Have a greater incidence of Mental Health Disturbances and Delinquency.

            Because we see increased manifestations of disorders such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Reactive Attachment Disorder(RAD), Conduct Disorder (CD), etc in the adopted populations vs. non adopted populations we can see a clear connection (Pei 438).  Early abuse and trauma, genetic/environmental factors and a primal wound of being removed from the parent, and more, all serve to produce adoptive children with significant mental disturbances.

             Early deprivation, abuse, trauma, and dysfunctional attachment can disrupt a child’s brain development; thus their production and management of neurotransmitters. A major contributor to studies on adoptees mental health, Remi Cadoret, states "There is a general acceptance of the likelihood that genetic factors predisposing to aggressive and violent behaviors do exist...and will be imbedded in complex development pathways involving neurotransmitter systems..." (Cadoret, Genetics of Aggressive and Violent Behavior 317).

            Research on abused and neglected children has indicated the devastating effects of maltreatment on the child’s growing brain; smaller brain size, decreased growth of the corpus callosum (connects the right and left sides of the brain) and impaired growth of inhibitory neurotransmitters, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), that serve to calm the excitable emotional limbic structures.  This is seen in brain imaging studies and through neurotransmitter testing. Even after children are introduced into safe and loving homes, the disrupted neurochemistry is still present. 

            "The importance of gene-environment interactions are illustrated in several adoption studies. For example, the effects of socioeconomic status on inhibiting or promoting the expression of the genetic vulnerability to criminality have been examined in two large-scale Danish and Swedish adoption studies"(Tehrani and Sarnoff 295). Adopted Children are more at risk than other non-adopted children because of their biological parent's criminal, or mental illness history and antisocial behavior.

            An NIH study points to research that  shows "emotional and behavioral issues are related to a number of health and social  problems in adolescence, even leading to juvenile delinquency and dropping out of school. A true mood or emotional disorder almost always has an underlying biochemical basis, and more severe disorders may require specialist treatments" (Wilde 64).

The Biological Parent Aspect:  Alcohol & Drug Abuse/Anti Social Behavior.

            There are no laws on the books mandating pregnant women with a history of birthing drug addicted babies being required to get any treatment while pregnant.  They can't even be forced to have prenatal care, thus allowing them to go all nine months without any "nagging" from doctors or social workers ("prenatal exposure").   Methamphetamine abuse is particularly cruel because one of its affects is extreme sexual arousal.  Sex seeking drug addicts are not known for their family planning or contraceptive use.  Babies that have been drug exposed, can be born prematurely, suffer severe effects from their exposure such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar, physical defects (cleft lip), plus many learning, developmental delays and conduct disorders, etc.  .

            Child abuse inflicts a wound that becomes a break in the intricate web of relationships that we exist in--the place where our core being resides.  That fundamental break causes us to become strangers to our environment, others and most profoundly ourselves.  We find ourselves struggling in an alien world with feelings of loneliness, isolation and betrayal.  Trust is lost in a most unnatural way.  This is not the normal growing up, seeing life is not the rosy picture we hoped to experience.  It is the unnatural loss or betrayal of trust of a child in his or her parents.  We don’t see a bond that under normal circumstances provides a guiding force in a life of confusion, chaos and struggle to find self.

             A family background of anti social behavior mixed in with a biological parent having a psychological disorder would increase the risk of childhood conduct disorder and adolescent aggressiveness.   Intergenerational transmission theories exist showing that criminal and antisocial parents tend to have delinquent and antisocial children (Cadoret  317).

Bonding:  Mental/Neurological Consequences

            Attachment is one of the most important aspects of a child’s development; it is the essential factor in shaping their minds through interactions. Neurotransmitter levels are a blueprint for a child’s mood, behavior, and overall functioning.  Continual research has shown that our early years create our brain's destiny; as relationships with parent’s changes so do the children’s attachment. This means it is never too late to create a positive change in a child’s life.  Through regulating neurotransmitter levels the ability to create a healthy bond with parents becomes much more feasible.

Conduct disorders

It has been theorized that genetic influences such as DNA alterations can cause thrill seeking behavior.  Studies on Serotonin  indicated that shorter strands could have a tendency to nervousness and more negative thought.  “A study on dopamine showed (or indicated) that people with a sevenfold repetition (rather than four) had a higher level of thrill seeking, quick  temper and excitability. Using this research the Dutch have been indicating at a likelihood of criminal propensity due to a shortage of enzymes needed to breakdown serotonin” (Bettelheim 290).  Problems with executive/cognitive functions are key to impulsivity and lack of restraint.

Neurochemistry and Neuroanatomy

            Research shows that neurochemistry (mental) problems and anatomy (physical) problems can be one in the same.  Twin and adoption studies have supported the theory that alcoholism, mental health disorders, and violent offences can be genetic traits.  Data suggests that the induction of some type of teratogen (congenital malformation), during gestation alters normal fetal development. Violent offending, but not property offending, may be associated with a disturbance in fetal development (Cadoret, Genetic and Environmental Factors in Adoptee Antisocial Personality 231).

            The function of the frontal lobe is to house our parental controls and executive functioning.  This gives us the ability to recognize future consequences resulting from current actions, to choose between good and bad choices.  We can override and suppress socially unacceptable responses, and be predictive of similarities and differences between things or events.  The frontal lobe is a critical center and it controls the "essence" of our humanity, according to Dr. Donald Stuss of The Rotman Research Institute.  It is the seat of our  emotions.  Our ability to feel compassion, understand consequences and social mores are controlled here.   (qtd in Firman and Gila 75)