[Traumatic Experiences and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of Adolescents in Boarding Schools]

In the context of abuse cases in boarding schools, stress among children and adolescents in boarding schools in Germany was discussed for the first time. So far, however, there is a lack of studies dealing with post-traumatic stress disorders of adolescents in boarding schools.The aim was to analyze the extent of trauma experiences and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorders as well as psychopathological abnormalities in adolescents in boarding schools on the basis of self-reports using a secondary analysis of theMAYSI-2 and UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV screening questionnaires and to derive implications for research and care concepts. Data was available from155 adolescents, 70%of whomweremale.The adolescents had been in boarding schools for an average of 3.26 years (SD = 2.48). A traumatic experience was evident in 69.7%(n = 108) of the adolescents, and 51.6%(n = 80) of the adolescentswere "conspicuous" in at least one of the six scales of theMAYSI-2. Taken together, 33.5%(n = 52) of the adolescents met the criteria for a suspected post-traumatic stress disorder according to ICD-10. Screening procedures should be established in boarding schools to identify traumatic experiences and psychopathological abnormalities in a timely manner. Concepts from youth welfare institutions can be used to deal with trauma experiences.There is a need for further research on traumatic experiences directly related to the boarding school placement situation.