Pediatric Traumatic Stress in Primary Care.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric mental health
• Primary care screening
• Traumatic stress research

Background:

• Trauma exposure and traumatic stress are significant contributors to adolescent mental health issues.
• Despite prevalence, trauma screening is not consistently integrated into routine pediatric care.
• Identifying youth experiencing traumatic stress is crucial for early intervention and prevention of morbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rates of trauma exposure and traumatic stress symptoms in adolescents during well-child visits.
• To examine the clinical associations between trauma, depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this population.
• To highlight the importance of trauma screening in primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 24,675 youth (aged 11-19) attending primary care well-child visits.
• Utilized the "Triple Screen" tool, including the Pediatric Traumatic Stress Screening Tool, PHQ-A, and GAD-7.
• Administered the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) when indicated.

Main Results:

• 15.5% of youth reported trauma exposure; 7.5% reported moderate/high traumatic stress symptoms.
• Female and Hispanic youth showed higher rates of trauma exposure.
• Adolescents with trauma and high traumatic stress were 10 times more likely to be at high risk for suicide.

Conclusions:

• Trauma exposure and traumatic stress are highly prevalent among youth in primary care settings.
• Routine trauma screening during well-child visits can effectively identify at-risk adolescents.
• Early identification facilitates timely intervention for mental health morbidities.