PTSD In Children

Term Paper # 115923

Child, Youth Issues
Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Psychology > Disorders

PTSD In Children

An examination of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents.

2,312 words () | 17 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explores post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents and how it may be wrongly construed as merely bad behavior. The paper provides a literature review and discusses the symptoms and treatment. Through this paper, the writer hopes to heighten awareness by presenting indicators of PTSD in children that may warrant further psychiatric and family preservation services.

Outline:
Introduction
Literature Review
Symptoms
Is It Just Bad Behavior?
Treatment
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The literature available on PTSD in broad terms is vast; however, there is a dearth of scholarly information specifically related to patients eighteen years and younger who are afflicted with PTSD. The lack of literature may be attributed to complications surrounding the study of PTSD in children. For example, federal and state laws may prohibit disclosure. In addition, diagnostic and psychosocial assessments can be extremely difficult when treating young children (Perry & Ishnella, 1999) since young children may not yet have the cognitive ability to verbalize or may be unable to communicate because of their fear. Older children may be reluctant to divulge information that they believe poses an additional threat to them or to a loved one."

Sample of Sources Used:

American Academy of Child & Adolescents (1999). Facts for families. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Retrieved June 3, 2007, from: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/posttraumatic_stress_disorder_ptsd.
American Psychiatric Association (2005). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Fourth Edition Text Revision. Arlington, VA.
American Psychiatric Association (2005). Let's talk facts about posttraumatic stress disorder. Retrieved June 3, 2007, from: http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-PTSD.pdf.
Carrion, V. (2007). News release. Severe PTSD damages children's brains, Stanford/Packard study shows. Retrieved May 27, 2007, from: http://www.lpch.org/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/2007/ptsd.html.
Clinical Trials.gov (n.d.). Treating posttraumatic stress disorder in children exposed to domestic violence. Retrieved, June 3, 2007, from: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00183326.