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A prospective study of appraisals in childhood posttraumatic stress disorder

Richard A Bryant1, Karen Salmon, Emma Sinclair

  • 1University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. R.Bryant@unsw.edu.au

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|June 15, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Children experiencing negative appraisals after traumatic injury are at higher risk for developing chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Younger children who perceive themselves as vulnerable after trauma require targeted interventions to prevent PTSD.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Trauma Studies
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant concern in children following traumatic injury.
  • Understanding predictors of chronic PTSD is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify predictors of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children after traumatic injury.
  • To examine the role of negative appraisals and acute stress disorder (ASD) in PTSD development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 76 children (aged 7-13) hospitalized for injury.
  • Initial assessment included acute stress disorder (ASD), negative appraisals, and parental stress.
  • Re-assessment at 6 months for PTSD and negative appraisals.

Main Results:

  • Negative appraisals about future harm significantly predicted the majority of variance in chronic posttraumatic stress.
  • Younger children exhibiting exaggerated vulnerability post-trauma were identified as high-risk for PTSD.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support cognitive models of PTSD, emphasizing the role of appraisals.
  • Interventions targeting negative appraisals and perceived vulnerability in children are recommended for PTSD prevention.

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