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.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Jun 2004
