Symptom differences in acute and chronic presentation of childhood post-traumatic stress disorder.
The authors report on 24 children diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM-III criteria. Each child was designated as presenting with acute or chronic PTSD depending upon the duration of symptoms. Children with the acute form of PTSD presented with a relative increase in spontaneously acting as though the trauma were recurring upon real or symbolic exposure, difficulty falling asleep, hypervigilance, nightmares, exaggerated startle response, and generalized anxiety/agitation. Those presenting with the chronic form had relative increases in symptoms of detachment, restricted range of affect, dissociative episodes, sadness, and a belief that life will be too hard.
Boston Juvenile Court, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.
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R
Famularo
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Kinscherff
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Fenton
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*