TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2005//
TI  - Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Children After Road Traffic Accidents
JO  - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
A1  - Sennhauser, Felix H.
A1  - Gnehm, Hanspeter E.
A1  - Timm, Karin
A1  - Vollrath, Mark
A1  - Landolt, Markus A.
SP  - 1276
EP  - 1283
VL  - 44
IS  - 12
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the prevalence, course, and predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) in children after road traffic accidents (RTAs). METHOD: Sixty-eight children (6.5-14.5 years old) were interviewed 4-6 weeks and 12 months after an RTA with the Child PTSD Reaction Index (response rate 58.6%). Their mothers (n = 60) and fathers (n = 53) were assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to severe PTSSs in children was 16.2% at 4-6 weeks, and 17.6% at 12 months. Mean PTSS scores did not decrease between the two assessments. Five children showed a delayed onset of PTSSs. Twelve mothers (20%) and six fathers (11.3%) met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 4 to 6 weeks. At 12 months, three mothers (5.7%) and no fathers met diagnostic criteria. Child PTSSs at 12 months was significantly predicted by PTSS at 4-6 weeks and by severity of father's PTSD. Age, sex, injury severity, threat appraisal, and maternal PTSD did not significantly contribute to child PTSSs at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for careful psychological assessment of children and their parents after an RTA. The possibility of delayed onset of PTSSs implies a monitoring beyond the first weeks after the accident. The impact of fathers' PTSD on child PTSSs suggests that fathers ought to be actively involved in family-based prevention and treatment interventions of child PTSSs after RTAs.
LA  - 
SN  - 0890-8567
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -