Parents advised to talk with their child about his or her thoughts and feelings

Doctors say better methods are needed to predict which children who experience a traumatic event such as a car accident will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a severe reaction to a traumatic event that involves re-experiencing the event through dreams, recollections or flashbacks. Sufferers also avoid reminders of the trauma and feel jumpy and emotionally numb.

Studies have shown a strong connection between experiencing these symptoms within a month of the traumatic event — a condition called acute stress disorder (ASD) — and the later development of PTSD in adults. But Nancy Kassam-Adams and Dr. Flaura Winston at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia say children who do not meet the criteria for ASD can still develop PTSD.

Comments

This post currently has no comments. You can read the comments or leave your own thoughts on our new comments page.

Trackbacks

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Jun 2004
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.