Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Young Children Exposed to Terrorism: Validation of the Alternative Diagnostic Criteria

• NCJ Number: 232234
• Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: October-December 2009 Pages: 229-241
• Author(s): Esther Cohen; Reuma Gadassi
• Date Published: October 2009
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated how young children in Israel during the second Intifada were influenced by their exposure to terrorism.

Abstract

The need to adapt the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young children is widely recognized, yet attempts to validate alternative criteria have been limited. We examined profiles of PTSD symptoms in 29 Israeli children directly exposed to terrorism and a comparison group of 25 unexposed children. Whereas only 7 percent of the exposed children met PTSD criteria according to the DSM, an additional 24 percent were identified using the alternative criteria adopted in the revised diagnostic classification of 0 to 3. None of the children in the comparison group met criteria for diagnosis. Significant associations between exposure variables and PTSD supported the validity of the alternative criteria. Tables and references (Published Abstract)