Practice Parameters for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with PTSD
Date
2013
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Publisher
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Abstract
Description
These practice parameters review the current state of knowledge about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. The parameters were written to aid clinicians in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with PTSD symptoms. A literature search and extensive review were conducted in order to evaluate the existing empirical and clinical information in this regard. Expert consultation was also solicited. The main findings of this process were that a wide variety of stressors can lead to the development of PTSD symptoms in this population; the specific PTSD symptoms manifested may vary according to the developmental stage of the child and the nature of the stressor, and for this reason, the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in adults may not adequately describe this disorder in children and adolescents; that several factors appear to mediate the development of childhood PTSD following a severe stressor; and that most of the therapeutic interventions recommended for children with PTSD are trauma-focused and include some degree of direct discussion of the trauma. Controversies and unresolved issues regarding PTSD in children are also addressed. Key Words: posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, trauma-focused therapy, children, adolescents, evaluation, treatment, practice parameters, guidelines.
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Keywords
Best Practices-Treatment