How Dr. Frank Putnam's Research Transformed Childhood Trauma Care Forever

Dr. Frank Putnam, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, has spent decades studying the deep effects of childhood sexual abuse. His work proved that such trauma reshapes both the mind and body of survivors. Few psychiatrists were willing to tackle this issue when he began his research. Dr. Putnam did not start his career focusing on child abuse. But as a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, he noticed a critical gap in care. Most psychiatrists avoided the field, leaving victims without proper support.

His **Female Growth and Development Study** became a turning point. The research showed that childhood sexual abuse alters biology, affecting health and development for life. These findings changed how doctors and therapists treat survivors. Beyond his studies, he wrote *Old Before Their Time*, a book exploring the long-term damage of abuse. He also examines how abuse repeats across generations—and how to break that cycle.

Dr. Putnam's research has reshaped medical and psychological approaches to abuse survivors. His studies highlighted lasting impacts on health, behaviour, and survival. Today, his work remains essential in understanding and treating childhood trauma.