Brief report: the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder in mothers of children diagnosed with pediatric cancer and type I diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk of and predictors of enduring and late-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among mothers of children diagnosed with type I diabetes and cancer.


METHODS
Mothers (N = 99) of children diagnosed with cancer or diabetes for at least 12 months completed a structured clinical interview for PTSD and self-report measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stressful life events.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the rate of PTSD between the two groups. Overall, fewer mothers (7%) met criteria for PTSD on the structured clinical interview than those on a self-report measure of PTSD (17%). Mothers who reported more depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stressful life events tended to report significantly more PTSD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings extend prior research regarding the prevalence rate and predictors of PTSD and PTSD symptoms in pediatric populations. It is recommended that clinicians exercise caution when interpreting prevalence rates for PTSD that are derived from self-report measures.
Stoppelbein
Laura
L
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505, USA. lstoppelbein@psychiatry.umsmed.edu
Greening
Leilani
L
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology