Fritzi Horstman interviews Dr. Vincent Felitti, co-creator of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Quiz

Join CPP Founder Fritzi Horstman and guests as they discuss the objectives and approaches involved in bringing trauma awareness and compassionate healing to the forefront of public conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-VAUnGV1Vs&t=4s Dr. Vincent J Felitti, MD from Kaiser Permanente is the co-principal investigator, along with Robert F. Anda MD from the CDC, of the Adverse Childhood Experiences research study. The ACE study changed the way we understand the impact and predisposing influence childhood trauma has on adult health issues. It helped bring to the forefront the realization that we aren’t bad people but, rather, bad things have happened to us which have subsequently impacted our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Felitti graduated from John Hopkins Medical School, starting his medical career as an infectious disease physician in 1968. Dr. Felitti founded the Department of Preventive Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Diego and held the position of Chief of Preventive Medicine in 2001. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of California and a Fellow at the American College of Physicians. 2:05 – Origins of the ACE survey 3:23 – Obesity program uncovers hidden childhood trauma and sexual abuse 4:35 – Major study of 26,000 adults CDC and Kaiser Permanente 5:00 – 10 most common ACES selected that kept coming up with obese patients in weight loss program 5:50 – Initial sample was biased (74% white, middle class) 6:09 – 5% of people in initial study had family member go to prison 7:09 – Of 1000-person sample of those enrolled in obesity program, 55% experienced childhood sexual abuse 8:20 – Female prison population, nearly 100% experienced past sexual abuse 8:41 – ACE survey includes “often or very often” meaning repetitive emotional abuse 9:25 – Parents telling children to keep quiet about abuse, or not believing them, equates to parental neglect (adds another ACE) 10:15 – Unpredictable abuse leads to hypervigilance 11:04 – Domestic violence 12:38 – 440,000 patients over several years were surveyed by integrating ACE questions into medical history questionnaires 13:30 – Mathematician analyzed whether or not the ACE study had any effect on subsequent healthcare of patients 14:00 -- ACE survey results in amazing reductions in medical visits within following 12 months 14:25 – Vermont legislature invited Dr. Felitti to present, including ACE information in their state-run programs. Now 22 more states have passed similar legislation. 16:26 – Example of high cholesterol – is it genetics? ACEs? 17:24 – ACEs affect health in three categories including coping (crystal meth is street version of meth antidepressant from 1940s) 19:19 – One of Dr. Felitti’s more memorable patients – obese, heavy smoker, history of childhood molestation 22:46 – Neurochemical depression – life experiences cause chemical changes 23:37 – Prevalence of anxiety in society and 64% of Americans with at least 1 ACE 25:50 – Should we do ACE with the census? 26:55 – Patients appreciated medical staff acknowledging their “dark secrets” and still making them feel accepted 28:39 – Cities have published ACE survey in their newspapers 29:28 – School play idea – address abuse via fictional character development 31:45 – Awareness is key, rage is not who we are 32:37 – ACE awareness in prisons 32:55 – Why doesn’t the media address the childhoods of murderers? Wesley Purkey had an ACE score of 10. We executed him. 35:23 – 2000 ACE surveys have gone out to prisons 36:27 – 4 or more ACEs, seven times more likely to go to prison 36:54 – 3 pathways ACEs lead to disease: Coping mechanisms, toxic stress (brain chemistry) and epigenetics (influences on gene function) 41:58 – autoimmune issues associated with ACEs 42:24 – toxic stress and brain releases pro-inflammatory chemicals 44:45 – Need to improve parenting across the nation 45:57 – COVID and...