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All children and adolescents experience stressful events which can
affect them both emotionally and physically. Their reactions to
stress are usually brief, and they recover without further problems.
A child or adolescent who experiences a catastrophic event may
develop ongoing difficulties known as posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). The stressful or traumatic event involves a situation where
someone’s life has been threatened or severe injury has occurred
(ex. they may be the victim or a witness of physical abuse, sexual
abuse, violence in the home or in the community, automobile
accidents, natural disasters (such as flood, fire, earthquakes), and
being diagnosed with a life threatening illness). A child’s risk of
developing PTSD is related to the seriousness of the trauma, whether
the trauma is repeated, the child’s proximity to the trauma, and
his/her relationship to the victim(s).
Following the trauma, children may initially show agitated or
confused behavior. They also may show intense fear, helplessness,
anger, sadness, horror or denial. Children who experience repeated
trauma may develop a kind of emotional numbing to deaden or block
the pain and trauma. This is called dissociation. Children with PTSD
avoid situations or places that remind them of the trauma. They may
also become less responsive emotionally, depressed, withdrawn, and
more detached from their feelings.
A child with PTSD may also re-experience the traumatic event by:
- having frequent
memories of the event, or in young children, play in which some or
all of the trauma is repeated over and over
- having upsetting and
frightening dreams
- acting or feeling like
the experience is happening again
- developing repeated
physical or emotional symptoms when the child is reminded of the
event
Children with PTSD may also show the following symptoms:
- worry about dying at
an early age
- losing interest in
activities
- having physical
symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches
- showing more sudden
and extreme emotional reactions
- having problems
falling or staying asleep
- showing irritability
or angry outbursts
- having problems
concentrating
- acting younger than
their age (for example, clingy or whiny behavior, thumbsucking)
- showing increased
alertness to the environment
- repeating behavior
that reminds them of the trauma
The symptoms of PTSD may last from several months to many years.
The best approach is prevention of the trauma. Once the trauma has
occurred, however, early intervention is essential. Support from
parents, school, and peers is important. Emphasis needs to be placed
upon establishing a feeling of safety. Psychotherapy (individual,
group, or family) which allows the child to speak, draw, play, or
write about the event is helpful. Behavior modification techniques
and cognitive therapy may help reduce fears and worries. Medication
may also be useful to deal with agitation, anxiety, or depression.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists can be very helpful in
diagnosing and treating children with PTSD. With the sensitivity and
support of families and professionals, youngsters with PTSD can
learn to cope with the memories of the trauma and go on to lead
healthy and productive lives. |
The American Academy
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) represents over 6900 child
and adolescent psychiatrists who are physicians with at least five years
of additional training beyond medical school in general (adult) and
child and adolescent psychiatry.
The Facts for Families© series is developed and distributed by the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Facts
sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational use without written
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Free distribution of individual Facts for Families sheets is a public
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of Children Fund, P.O. Box 96106, Washington, D.C. 20090).
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