Residual Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Children after Treatment
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Mentor Information
Alison Salloum
Description
Background: There are effective trauma-focused treatments for children, but like adults, many children complete treatment and still have posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS, i.e., PTSS residual symptoms). Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify the most common PTSS residual symptoms among children ages 4-12 who have completed trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and Stepped care CBT for children after trauma. Method: Secondary data was used for this study from a randomized clinical trial with 183 children (ages 4-12) and their caregivers who participated in TF-CBT and Stepped care CBT for children after trauma. The Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment was used to assess PTSS for children ages 4-6 and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was used to assess PTSS for children for ages 7-12. Descriptive statistics were used to identify common PTSS at baseline, post-treatment, and 6 and 12 months. Results: Results indicated that there were four residual symptoms that remained high (i.e., over 14%) at post-treatment, and at the 6 and 12-month follow-up: psychological distress at reminders, hypervigilance, sleep disturbances and exaggerated startle response. Limitations: Using different interview schedules for young children and older children may have influenced the findings, as well as the inclusion of including only those children who completed treatment. Conclusion: Clinicians ought to monitor and tailor trauma-focused treatment to address children’s PTSS for arousal symptoms (i.e., hypervigilance, sleep disturbances and exaggerated startle response) and psychological distress at reminders. Treatment methods should include ways to help children cope with future trauma reminders.
Residual Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Children after Treatment
Background: There are effective trauma-focused treatments for children, but like adults, many children complete treatment and still have posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS, i.e., PTSS residual symptoms). Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify the most common PTSS residual symptoms among children ages 4-12 who have completed trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and Stepped care CBT for children after trauma. Method: Secondary data was used for this study from a randomized clinical trial with 183 children (ages 4-12) and their caregivers who participated in TF-CBT and Stepped care CBT for children after trauma. The Diagnostic Infant and Preschool Assessment was used to assess PTSS for children ages 4-6 and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was used to assess PTSS for children for ages 7-12. Descriptive statistics were used to identify common PTSS at baseline, post-treatment, and 6 and 12 months. Results: Results indicated that there were four residual symptoms that remained high (i.e., over 14%) at post-treatment, and at the 6 and 12-month follow-up: psychological distress at reminders, hypervigilance, sleep disturbances and exaggerated startle response. Limitations: Using different interview schedules for young children and older children may have influenced the findings, as well as the inclusion of including only those children who completed treatment. Conclusion: Clinicians ought to monitor and tailor trauma-focused treatment to address children’s PTSS for arousal symptoms (i.e., hypervigilance, sleep disturbances and exaggerated startle response) and psychological distress at reminders. Treatment methods should include ways to help children cope with future trauma reminders.
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Poster Presentation