title: Epidemiology of traumatic experiences in childhood.
abstract: The epidemiology of traumatic experiences in childhood is a key context for research, clinical treatment, program management, and policy development. This article discusses the conceptual, methodological, and programmatic challenges in precisely answering even relatively simple questions concerning the basic prevalence and incidence of important trauma types among American youth. Findings from studies using nationally representative samples and directly interviewing youth about their trauma histories are reviewed, and lifetime prevalence rates for various types of traumatic experience presented. Clinical application of this information and future directions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, MSC 861, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. Electronic address: saunders@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Benjamin E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, MSC 861, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary W
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020407:Internet; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Child maltreatment; Epidemiology; Polyvictimization; Traumatic events