Pediatric Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Across the world, as many as 80% of children experience traumatic events including physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, community violence, and war/conflict/terrorism (United Nations, 2006). Although prevalence rates vary across studies, more than 30% of children experience one or more traumatic events by late adolescence (Copeland, Keeler, Angold, & Costello, 2007). Complexity of trauma experiences has been associated with diverse short- and long-term negative mental health outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other anxiety disorders, depression, risky behaviors (e.g., substance use), and disruptive behavior problems (Silverman et al., 2008). In one longitudinal study, those exposed to trauma had almost double the rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders and PTSD as nontrauma-exposed children (Copeland et al., 2007). Exposure to violence also can result in greater vulnerability to social, emotional, and biological impairments over the course of the life time (e.g., Pervanidou, 2008). Taken together, these findings underscore the need for intervention for children and adolescents who have been exposed to trauma.