Citation

Wamser-Nanney R, Vandenberg BR. J. Trauma. Stress 2013; 26(6): 671-678.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jts.21857

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Complex trauma events have been defined as chronic, interpersonal traumas that begin early in life (Cook, Blaustein, Spinazzola, & van der Kolk, ). The complex trauma definition has been examined in adults, as indicated by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4(th) ed.; DSM-IV) field trial; however, this research was lacking in child populations. The symptom presentations of complexly traumatized children were contrasted with those exposed to other, less severe trauma ecologies that met 1 or 2 features of the complex trauma definition. Included in this study were 346 treatment-seeking children and adolescents (ages 3-18 years) who had experienced a traumatic event.

RESULTS indicated that child survivors of complex trauma presented with higher levels of generalized behavior problems and trauma-related symptoms than those who experienced (a) acute noninterpersonal trauma, (b) chronic interpersonal trauma that begins later in life, and (c) acute interpersonal trauma. Greater levels of behavioral problems were observed in children exposed to complex trauma as compared to those who experienced a traumatic event that begins early in life. These results provide support for the complex trauma event definition and suggest the need for a complex trauma diagnostic construct for children and adolescents.