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Anticipatory stress response in PTSD: extreme stress in children

Sherry Grogan1, Kathleen Pace Murphy

  • 1University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, USA. sherry.d.grogan@uth.edu

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing : Official Publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc
|January 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Anticipatory stress in children with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) chronically activates the stress response, leading to significant health issues. Early intervention by psychiatric nurses is crucial for mitigating long-term effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Children with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit chronic activation of the stress response due to anticipatory stress.
  • Allostatic load effects may manifest prenatally in stressful environments, impacting child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the anticipatory stress response in children diagnosed with PTSD.
  • To examine the disorder's etiology, long-term health consequences, and clinical management strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive review of current scientific literature was conducted.
  • Key studies investigating anticipatory stress and PTSD in children were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Anticipatory stress in pediatric PTSD presents both acute and chronic health implications.
  • The study highlights the significant impact of the disorder on a child's overall well-being.

Conclusions:

  • Anticipatory stress in children with PTSD has profound acute and long-term health consequences.
  • Psychiatric nurses are vital in preventing and managing the long-term effects of PTSD in pediatric populations.
Abstract

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