[Incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents: results of the Bremen Adolescent Study].
The frequency and comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) were assessed together with the resultant psychosocial impairment in 1035 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 years. Posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric disorders were coded on the basis of the DSM-IV criteria using the computerized personal interview of the Munich version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). A total of 17 (1.6%) adolescents met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at some point in their life. Slightly more girls than boys met the criteria for the disorder, whose frequency increased with age. The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events is much higher still: 233 (22.5%) adolescents reported one or more traumatic events in their life. The types of traumatic events experienced by the greatest number of adolescents were: physical attack, injury, and serious accident. Boys experienced significantly more traumatic events than did girls. The occurrence of a traumatic event was mostly associated with hypervigilance and recurrent and intrusive psychological distress upon exposure to cues which symbolized the event itself or resembled an aspect thereof. PTSD occurred in highly frequent comorbidity with depressive disorders, somatoform disorders, and substance abuse. Over 90% of those with posttraumatic stress disorder were severely impaired in their daily life and activities. Despite the high-grade psychosocial impairment, only a small number sought professional help.
Essau
C A
CA
Zentrum für Rehabilitationsforschung, Universität Bremen. essau@uni-bremen.de
Conradt
J
J
Petermann
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*