The Kerulos Center Great Ape projects deepen our understanding of Great Ape experiences and culture. This work in trans-species psychology helps bring ethical and legal standing of apes into alignment with scientific knowledge.

Chimpanzee Trauma and Recovery

Beginning in 2006, Kerulos director Gay Bradshaw led the first study on chimpanzee Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD. The result was two landmark publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals tradiitonally reserved for human concerns. This work comprises the first scientific treatment of ape mental wellbeing using the same criteria employed for human psychological diagnosis and treatment. This project has been instrumental in policy formulation and prompted advocacy groups to launch similar investigations.

In addition to scientific publications, study results have been presented at diverse professional scientific and psychiatric conferences including the International Primatological Society 22nd Congress (Edinburgh, Scotland, August 2008) and the 7th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (Rome, Italy, August 30-September 3, 2009).

Bradshaw, G.A., Capaldo, T, Lindner, L & Grow. G. 2008. Building an inner sanctuary: trauma-induced symptoms in non-human great apes. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 9(1), 9-34.

Bradshaw, G.A. et al. 2009. Developmental context effects on bicultural Post-Trauma Self-Repair in Chimpanzees. Developmental Psychology. 45: 5,1376-1388.

Capaldo, T. and Bradshaw, G.A.. 2011. The bioethics of great ape well-being. Psychiatric injury and duty of care.. Animals and Society Institute Policy Paper. (English or Spanish)

Bradshaw, G.A., & R. M. Sapolsky. 2006. Mirror, Mirror. American Scientist, November/December. 487-489.

Bradshaw, G.A. & B. L. Finlay. 2005. Natural Symmetry. Nature, 435:149.

Bradshaw, G.A. 2009. Reconciling Difference—Animals and attachment: Seeing difference from the perspective of sameness. Psychology Today blog.

Bradshaw, G.A. 2010. I am Billy: Self and identity across species and time. Psychology Today blog.

photo credits
"Jeannie and Gloria holding hands" and "Tom" courtesy Fauna Foundation


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"Science in service to animals"

Chimpanzee PTSD and Trauma

Chimpanzees and other animals are routinely used in biomedical research and for other commercial purposes including television, movies, circuses, and companion “pets”. Captivity, social isolation, severe emotional duress, and psychophysiological suffering often lead to symptoms referred to as Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Similar symptoms are seen in humans who have endured political imprisonment, domestic abuse, and other forms of systematic violence.