Research and practice use of the CECA
The CECA has been used in a large number of research contexts.
Although its original purpose to examine lifespan factors in the genesis
of depression and anxiety disorders, it has since been used to study
a range of clinical disorders (e.g. conduct disorders, substance abuse,
bi-polar disorder, personality disorders and schizophrenia and psychotic
symptoms). Results show that childhood adversity increase risk of many
such disorders, with causal models developed to explore mediating and
moderating disorders specific to different outcomes.
The CECA interview has also been used internationally, not only in the
USA and Canada, but also in Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Germany, and
therefore exists in translation.
Increasingly the CECA is being used as an assessment tool in clinical,
forensic and social work practice. For example, ongoing action research
by the Lifespan Research Group with St Christopher’s Fellowship
(www.stchris.org.uk)
is utilising the CECA in assessing young people in residential care
as part of their SHARP intervention and scoring information from both
interviews and case file information. This together with face-to-face
interview on their attachment style and self-esteem allows for a comprehensive
coverage of their psychosocial risks and resilience factors.
An evaluation
was carried out recently on the use of the CECA in Royal Borough of
Kingston's Child Safeguarding Services. The study trained 8 social workers
in the CECA and examined how it can be used to inform chronologies for
court proceedings and the categorization of maltreatment and severity
ratings for care planning.
The ‘Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Interview’ for Child Safeguarding practitioners: An evaluation in RB Kingston Safeguarding Services', by
Professor Antonia Bifulco & Catherine Jacobs, 2010. Read project executive summary report (full report available on request).
The Questionnaire: CECA.Q2
A
brief self-report version has been validated against the interview. This
assesses loss of parents, neglect, antipathy from main carers and physical
and sexual abuse. Support in childhood is also included. The measure shows
acceptable sensitivity and specificity againszt the interview measure,
and published cut-off scores are available. The CECA.Q has been translated
into a number of languages (eg Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese)
and has been used in Europe, USA, Canada, South America and the Far East.
The
measure is associated with both the Parental Bonding Instrument and the
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire3,
but has wider coverage of maltreatment, shows a dose-response effect in
relation to lifetime clinical depression and has improved improved prediction
of disorder. A longer version of the questionnaire including psychological
abuse items is available on request.
Download CECA Questionnaire here.
CECA.Q3 is a version of the original CECA Questionnaire that offers additional sections of psychological abuse and role reversal. These are included in the later version because of their key relationship to later depression and self-harm behaviour in adolescents.
Download CECA Questionnaire - with Psychological Abuse and Role Reversal (CECA.Q3) here.
Download CECA Questionnaire Scoring Guide here.
