title: Cognitive deficits and posttraumatic stress disorder in children: A diagnostic dilemma illustrated through a case study.
abstract: Studies investigating the neuropsychological functioning of children who experience trauma have predominantly focused on maltreated populations. This article presents a case study that details the longitudinal outcome of a girl who experienced a motor vehicle accident at 5 years of age. It highlights the clinical relevance of research investigating the neuropsychological impact of single-incident trauma on children. It illustrates difficulties clinicians face in discriminating between the effects of developmental delay, traumatic brain injury, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, trauma, and posttraumatic stress symptoms or posttraumatic stress disorder, especially in children with compensable injuries. The state of the current literature is discussed, and directions for future research are provided.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Counselling , School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malarbi
authors.affiliation: b Child Neuropsychology , Clinical Sciences Theme at Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muscara
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology and Counselling , School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.|b Child Neuropsychology , Clinical Sciences Theme at Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stargatt
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Children; diagnosis; neuropsychology; posttraumatic stress disorder; trauma