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[PTSD in young children after medical procedure]

J W Sepers1, N van der Boon, N E A Landsmeer-Beker

  • 1GGZ Rivierduinen, afd. Kinderen en Jeugd/ Psychotraumacentrum, Leiden.

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|June 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Medical procedures can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children. Trauma-focused treatments, including hypnosis and distraction, can prevent and treat PTSD symptoms in children and their parents.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Trauma Studies
  • Medical Sociology

Background:

  • Children with chronic conditions like cerebral palsy and biliary atresia are vulnerable to medical trauma.
  • Medical procedures can precipitate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in pediatric patients.
  • Resistance to medical treatment can arise from trauma-related psychological distress.

Observation:

  • Two cases are presented: an eight-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and a two-year-old girl with biliary atresia.
  • Both children developed PTSD symptoms following medical interventions.
  • The children exhibited resistance to further medical care due to their trauma symptoms.

Findings:

  • Trauma-focused treatments, such as eye movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), were administered.
  • Hypnosis and distraction techniques are proposed as potential preventative measures against PTSD post-medical procedures.
  • Successful treatment outcomes were observed for children with both full and sub-threshold PTSD, as well as for their parents.

Implications:

  • Early recognition and intervention for PTSD in children undergoing medical procedures are crucial.
  • Parental psychological well-being is interconnected with their child's medical trauma experience.
  • Integrating psychological support, including trauma-informed care, into pediatric medical settings is recommended.

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