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UW Professor Małgorzata Dragan, PhD
Head of the Health and Rehabilitation Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw
She is the chairman of the Polish Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (PTBST). For over 20 years she has been studying the issue of traumatic stress, focusing in particular on long-term aspects of adverse childhood experiences and complex trauma. She completed a training in cognitive and behavioural psychotherapy, and received scholarships of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and of the Foundation for Polish Science.
In 2017, her monograph “Problemowe picie alkoholu przez młode kobiety. Rola niekorzystnych doświadczeń oraz samoregulacji emocji” (Problematic alcohol use by young women. The role of adverse experiences and self-control of emotions) was awarded the Theophrastus Prize for the best scientific psychological book.
Long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences
We study long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), with a particular focus on the complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex-PTSD). We analyse both occurrence of complex-PTSD and mental mechanisms associated with it.
Long-term studies of Professor Małgorzata Dragan show that problems with controlling emotions and dysfunctional metacognition are crucial risk factors for the occurrence of psychopathologies post childhood trauma. Adverse experiences in that period may not only lead to PTSD, but also to problematic alcohol use and various mental and physical health disorders.
