Citation

March S, Kenardy JA, Cobham VE, Nixon RD, McDermott B, De Young A. J. Trauma. Stress 2015; 28(1): 34-40.

Affiliation

School of Psychology, Counselling and Community, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jts.21981

PMID

25703937

Abstract

Screening is recommended as a simple method for identifying those who should be monitored for risk following trauma. Effective methods for implementing large-scale screening programs are yet to be established. This study tested the feasibility and utility of a screening program with hospitalized youth exposed to injury in 3 Australian hospitals. Eligible families (N = 1,134) were contacted and 546 children (48.0%) screened for risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 1-2 weeks postinjury. There were 95 (17.4%) children whose screen result was at risk. A rescreening phase was introduced during the study, with 68 children completing the rescreen at 4-6 weeks postinjury, and 26 (38.2% of those rescreened) still at risk. Of those initially screened, 29 (5.3%) completed diagnostic assessments, 21 (3.8%) were diagnosed with partial or full PTSD, and 17 (3.1%) commenced treatment. Screening was successful at identifying and reaching children with PTSD, but the response rate was lower than expected, which limited the utility of the program. The addition of a rescreening phase demonstrated that not all at-risk children required intervention. These findings replicate previous studies that have shown natural remission in PTSD symptoms and highlight the potential for rescreening as part of a watchful waiting approach.

Language: en