Symptom Differences in Acute and Chronic Presentation of Childhood Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• NCJ Number: 124983
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (1990) Pages: 439-444
• Author(s): R Famularo; R Kinscherff; T Fenton
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-CA-1408
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The authors report on 24 children diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM-III criteria.

Abstract

Each child was designated as presenting with acute or chronic PTSD depending upon the duration of symptoms. Children with the acute form of PTSD presented with a relative increase in spontaneously acting as though the trauma were recurring upon real or symbolic exposure, difficulty falling asleep, hypervigilance, nightmares, exaggerated startle response, and generalized anxiety/agitation. Those presenting with the chronic form had relative increases in symptoms of detachment, restricted range of affect, dissociative episodes, sadness, and a belief that life will be too hard. 1 table, 37 references. (Author abstract)