Brief report: post-traumatic stress during emerging adulthood in survivors of pediatric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and disorder (PTSD) among survivors of childhood cancer and comparison peers during the transition to emerging adulthood.


METHODS
From elementary and middle school, we prospectively followed a cohort of 56 cancer survivors, 60 comparison peers, and their parents. Assessments were completed after the youth's 18th birthday using questionnaires and a semi-structured psychiatric interview. Healthcare providers rated treatment severity and late effects.


RESULTS
Survivors and comparison peers did not differ on rates of PTSS or PTSD, but comparison peers reported more dissociative experiences than survivors. Late effects were associated with a greater number of past PTSS. Of the 16 cancer survivors who reported a traumatic event, five (31%) were cancer-related.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of PTSS were similar for survivors and comparison peers. Research with other potentially traumatic diseases or treatments (e.g., amputations, brain tumors) is needed. The role of methodology and contextual factors in the assessment of PTSS/PTSD is discussed.
Gerhardt
Cynthia A
CA
Columbus Children's Research Institute, Center for Biobehavioral Health, Rm. G362, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205-2696, USA. gerhardc@ccri.net
Yopp
Justin M
JM
Leininger
Lindsay
L
Valerius
Kristin S
KS
Correll
Judy
J
Vannatta
Kathryn
K
Noll
Robert B
RB
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*