Thread by @andykturner, There have been lots of critiques of adverse childhood experiences (#ACEs) approaches [...]

There have been lots of critiques of adverse childhood experiences ( #ACEs) approaches recently, so @PeopleValues and I have put together a thread of those we have found most useful

There are plenty of promotional materials and dedicated websites available on #ACEs too - found easily using a quick search on Twitter or Google - but critiques are not promoted as much and come from a variety of sources, so they can be more difficult to find

Please note that questioning or cautioning against particular aspects of the #ACEs movement doesn't mean we don't think it is important - generally we might just disagree on the most effective things to do and the evidence for them

(It's a bit like climate change - we all agree it needs sorting, but there are valid debates about what will work, what to focus on, whether individual-level things will make any real difference without societal changes, etc.)

If you cannot immediately access an article (especially academic ones) you can get in touch with the author and ask for a copy. Academics are usually perfectly happy to do this.

First, some blogs and articles discussing general concerns and cautions around #ACEs:

1. 'Good intentions but the right approach? The case of ACEs'
Blog by me (*blows own trumpet*)

http://publichealthy.co.uk/good-intentions-but-the-right-approach-the-case-of-aces/

2. 'Why I worry about the ACE-aware movement’s impact'
Article by Whitney Barratt https://www.tes.com/news/why-i-worry-about-ace-aware-movements-impact

Why I worry about the ACE-aware movement’s impact

There’s more to trauma than simply an ‘adverse childhood experiences’ score, says this principal educational psychologist

https://www.tes.com/news/why-i-worry-about-ace-aware-movements-impact

3. 'The ACEs campaign: cause for worry or celebration?'
Article by @PeopleValues https://www.tes.com/news/aces-campaign-cause-worry-or-celebration

The ACEs campaign: cause for worry or celebration?

Everyone wants to help people who have been through childhood trauma, but is Scotland taking the right approach?

https://www.tes.com/news/aces-campaign-cause-worry-or-celebration

4. 'Stop using the Adverse Childhood Experiences checklist to make claims about trauma causing physical and mental health problems'
Blog by @CoyneoftheRealm https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/11/15/stop-using-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-checklist-to-make-claims-about-trauma-causing-physical-and-mental-health-problems/

Stop using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Checklist to make claims about trauma causing physical...

Scores on the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) checklist (or ACC) are widely used in making claims about the causal influence of childhood trauma on mental and physical health problems. Does...

https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/11/15/stop-using-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-checklist-to-make-claims-about-trauma-causing-physical-and-mental-health-problems/

5. 'ACEs: Light bulb moment or magic bullet for social ills in Scotland?'

Article by @chrismarshll https://www.scotsman.com/news/aces-light-bulb-moment-or-magic-bullet-for-social-ills-in-scotland-1-4870913

ACEs: Light bulb moment or magic bullet for social ills in Scotland?

Police are the latest group to hail an index of child trauma that offers a key to health and behaviour. But is it good science, asks Chris Marshall

https://www.scotsman.com/news/aces-light-bulb-moment-or-magic-bullet-for-social-ills-in-scotland-1-4870913

6. 'Why you need to remain critical of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)'
Blog by @Jessicae13Eaton https://victimfocus.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/why-you-need-to-remain-critical-of-aces-adverse-childhood-experiences/

Why you need to remain critical of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

Jessica Eaton explains her critical approach to Adverse Childhood Experiences ACEs

https://victimfocus.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/why-you-need-to-remain-critical-of-aces-adverse-childhood-experiences/

7. 'Making Scotland an ACE informed nation'
Various blogs collated by @emz_davidson for @CRFRtweets (incl. @ArianeCritchley @LynnMcNair @DrAmyChandler @RamonaAlaggia @ResiliencebyD with more on the way)

https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/CRFRresilience/category/blog/

8. 'Rethinking Adverse Childhood Experiences'
Academic bulletin by @sarahanderson26 for @TheHowardLeague

https://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ECAN-bulletin-Spring-2019.pdf

9. ACEs Position Paper
Policy position paper including critique from @childcomwales

https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ACEs-Position-Paper-CCFW-Sally-Holland.pdf

10. On the issue of consent:
'The ACE Movement Must Address the Issue of Consent'
Blog by @DrBruceScott

http://www.scottishreview.net/BruceScott475a.html

Second, some academic general critiques:

11. 'The problem with ACEs'
Submission to @CommonsSTC inquiry by @RosEdwards2, @ValGillies, @janmacvarish, @ProfSueWhite, @ProfDaveWastell

https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/parentingculturestudies/files/2018/01/The-Problem-with-ACEs-EY10039-Edwards-et-al.-2017-1.pdf

12. The @CommonsSTC report itself, which on #ACEs concluded that "the simplicity of this framework and the non-deterministic impact of ACEs mean that it should not be used to guide the support oﬀered to specific individuals"

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmsctech/506/506.pdf

13. 'A Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework in Epidemiology and Public Health: Uses and Misuses'
Academic paper by @shell_ki https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/critique-of-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-framework-in-epidemiology-and-public-health-uses-and-misuses/9D5EFAD918AAA52C947AD28C2CBA46EC

A Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework in Epidemiology and Public Health: Uses...

A Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework in Epidemiology and Public Health: Uses and Misuses - Volume 18 Issue 3 - Michelle Kelly-Irving, Cyrille Delpierre

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/critique-of-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-framework-in-epidemiology-and-public-health-uses-and-misuses/9D5EFAD918AAA52C947AD28C2CBA46EC

14. 'A Critical Assessment of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study at 20 Years'
Academic paper by McEwan and Gregerson from @BowdoinCollege https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)32358-4/abstract

A Critical Assessment of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study at 20 Years

This year marks the 20th anniversary of publication in this journal of the first of many articles on the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) research by Drs. Felitti, Anda, and colleagues.1 As we...

https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)32358-4/abstract

15. 'Trauma informed practice and ACES: Critical perspectives on children’s mental health and domestic abuse'
Recorded conference talk by @JaneEMCallaghan (paper apparently under review)

https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/hub/publication/910297

16. 'Inclusion, Empathy and Social Justice: An Affirmative Model'
Recorded lecture by @inde_for_inde

Third, some academic critiques specifically on ACE screening/routine enquiry - especially the lack of evidence and potential for harm:

17. 'Screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Cautions and suggestions'
Academic paper by @DavidFinkelhor

http://unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV350-InPress.pdf

18. 'The evidence base for routine enquiry into adverse childhood experiences: A scoping review'
Academic paper by @Katharineford, @keh444, @Hardcastle_KA, @AlishaDavies1, @lisa_dil, @markabellis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30884399

Finally, some pieces on ACEs primarily being a symptom of underlying socioeconomic conditions:

19. 'Adverse childhood experiences or adverse childhood socioeconomic conditions?'
Academic paper by Taylor-Robinson et al. from @LivUniIPHS https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30094-X/fulltext

Adverse childhood experiences or adverse childhood socioeconomic conditions?

If a child lives with an adult who has a mental health disorder or an alcohol-related illness, how does that affect the risk of emergency hospital admission for that child? In The Lancet Public...

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30094-X/fulltext

20. 'Poverty and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)'
Blog by @moragtreanor https://www.children1st.org.uk/blog/poverty-and-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces/

Poverty and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

https://www.children1st.org.uk/blog/poverty-and-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces/

21. 'Capability and adversity: reframing the “causes of the causes” for mental health'
Academic paper by @psysmith https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-018-0066-z

Capability and adversity: reframing the “causes of the causes

Capability and adversity: reframing the “causes of the causes” for mental health

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-018-0066-z

22. (Not yet available but one to watch out for - @theGCPH has a systematic review in press, 'To what extent are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) explained by childhood socioeconomic conditions?)

There are more critiques out there, but we hope this collection will help to form balanced and critical judgements of the ACEs approach, taking account of the potential pitfalls and avoiding rushing ahead of the evidence base. Thanks for reading. RTs appreciated.

https://twitter.com/sarahanderson26/status/1122882179799953409?s=19