NCJ Number
193394
Journal
Journal of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 174-181
Date Published
February 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This Danish study provides epidemiological information about exposure to traumatic events and life events together with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a national study.
Abstract
The goals were to examine the relationship among the experiences of trauma, life events, sociodemographic variables, and PTSD; to estimate the lifetime prevalence of traumatic events, life events, and PTSD, overall and by gender; and to assess the subjective distress of a number of traumatic events and life events. In a national representative sample of 390 eighth grade students with a mean age of 14.5 years, 20 prevalent potential traumatizing and distressing events were described, along with the psychological impact of these events. This study revealed a larger number of traumatic and life events, including the family sphere, experienced by adolescents. Eighty-seven percent of the females and 78 percent of the males were exposed to at least one event. The most common events were the death of a family member, threat of violence, or serious accidents. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 9 percent, whereas another 14 percent reached a subclinical level of PTSD. Being exposed to multiple traumatic events was associated with an increase in PTSD. Males seemed to be victimized in outside activities more often than females, while females seemed to be victimized more often in family-related events and by self-inflicted events (suicide attempts). There was no significant difference between the sexes regarding divorce, but females reported the absence of a parent almost four times more than males did. Results indicate that adolescence is a risk period during which there is considerable exposure to stressful events. Most studies of adolescents’ relation to trauma have focused on violence, but there seems to be ample evidence that events in addition to violence are important determinants of traumatization. 3 tables, 31 references