title: Complex traumatic stress in the pediatric medical setting.
abstract: There has been a recent increase in research focusing on child complex traumatic stress following prolonged or repeated trauma. These traumatic stress reactions often affect many aspects of the child's functioning, including psychological, behavioral, and physical health. In addition, complex traumatic stress experienced by youth with serious medical conditions may influence health issues such as medical adherence, emotional adjustment to illness, and pain management. This article reviews and delineates the current state of the literature on the impact of complex traumatic stress in childhood on mental and physical health as well as on these pediatric health-related issues. To date, few empirical studies have directly addressed this association. Several features associated with complex traumatic stress, such as emotion regulation difficulties, disruptive behavior, and family conflict, have indirectly been demonstrated to interfere with pediatric adherence, medical coping, and pain management. This demonstrates the need for more focused research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA. mbrosbe@gmail.com
authors.forename: Micah S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brosbe
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faust
authors.forename: Steven N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D010372:Pediatrics; D012106:Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*