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Psychological Screening of Children for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1999

Paul Stallard ,
Richard Velleman  and
Sarah Baldwin
Paul Stallard
Affiliation:
Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health Care Trust, Royal United Hospital, Bath, U.K.
Richard Velleman
Affiliation:
Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health Care Trust, Royal United Hospital, Bath, U.K.
Sarah Baldwin
Affiliation:
Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health Care Trust, Royal United Hospital, Bath, U.K.
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Abstract

One hundred and seventy children attending a hospital accident and emergency department following everyday trauma were interviewed and completed the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) screening battery suggested by Yule and Udwin (1991). Diagnostic interviews (CAPS-C) confirmed that 39 (22.9%) fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. There were significant differences between children with and without PTSD on each individual component of the screening battery. Various criteria for caseness were evaluated and at 6 weeks post trauma the screen identified up to 90% of children diagnosed with PTSD and 73% with borderline conditions. A subset of 36 children were reassessed 8 months post trauma and all children with persistent PTSD were correctly identified by initial screen scores. The limitations of the study and the role of screening for PTSD in the absence of proven psychological interventions are discussed.

Keywords

Post-traumatic Stress Disorderscreeningroad traffic accidents
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines , Volume 40 , Issue 7 , October 1999 , pp. 1075 - 1082
Copyright
© 1999 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry

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