title: The psychological sequelae of violent injury in a pediatric intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pediatric trauma centers have unique potential to prevent violent injury and its psychological sequelae. Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) are proliferating across the U.S., but little is known about the psychological needs of pediatric patients who participate in them. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress and exposure to community violence among pediatric HVIP participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of psychosocial needs assessment data that were collected for 48 participants. The Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire (CTSQ) and modified Survey of Children's Exposure to Community Violence were used to assess primary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was 62.5% male and had a mean age of 14.5 years. Twenty-three percent reported previously sustaining a violent injury resulting in medical care, and 47.8% had witnessed a shooting. The majority (66.0%) had a CTSQ score at/above the threshold for probable PTSD diagnosis. The mean CTSQ score was 5.9 and hyperarousal (3.3) symptoms were more common than re-experiencing symptoms (2.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric HVIPs and trauma centers should consider integrating PTSD screening and trauma-focused psychoeducation into the practice and protocols. Future research should evaluate the impacts of these interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management & Policy, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: JPP46@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Purtle
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Compton
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Rich
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baccare
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dibartolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moront
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Exposure to community violence; Hospital-based violence intervention programs; Posttraumatic stress; Violent injury