Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children
What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem. It can affect people of all ages. A child with PTSD keeps having scary thoughts and memories of a past event. He or she finds the event terrifying, either physically or emotionally.
The symptoms of PTSD may start soon after a stressful event. Or they may not happen for 6 months or longer. Some children with PTSD have long-term effects. They may feel emotionally numb for a very long time. PTSD in children often becomes a long-term (chronic) problem.
PTSD may be accompanied by:
- Depression
- Substance abuse
- Anxiety
What causes PTSD in a child?
A traumatic event that triggers PTSD may be:
- Something that happened to the child
- Something that happened to someone close to the child
- Something the child saw
A child or teen may suffer from PTSD after one of these traumatic events:
- Bad accidents, such as car or train wrecks
- Invasive medical procedures, especially for children younger than age 6
- Animal bites
- Natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes
- Manmade tragedies, such as bombings
- Violent personal attacks, such as a mugging, rape, torture, or kidnapping
- Physical abuse
- Sexual assault
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse or bullying
- Neglect
Which children are at risk for PTSD?
A child’s risk for PTSD is often affected by:
- How close the child was to the traumatic event
- How bad the event was
- How long the event lasted
- If the event happened more than once
- How well the child is able to recover quickly from difficult things (resiliency)
- How well the child copes
- How supportive a child’s family and community are after the event
What are the symptoms of PTSD in a child?
Children and teens with PTSD feel a lot of emotional and physical distress when exposed to situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Some may relive the trauma over and over again. They may have nightmares and disturbing memories during the day. They may also:
- Have problems sleeping
- Feel depressed or grouchy
- Feel nervous, jittery, or alert and watchful (on guard)
- Lose interest in things they used to enjoy. They may seem detached or numb and are not responsive.
- Have trouble feeling affectionate
- Be more aggressive than before, even violent
- Stay away from certain places or situations that bring back memories
- Have flashbacks. These can be images, sounds, smells, or feelings. The child may believe the event is happening again.
- Lose touch with reality
- Reenact an event for seconds or hours or, in rare cases, days
- Have problems in school
- Have trouble focusing
- Worry about dying at a young age
- Act younger than their age, such as thumb-sucking or bedwetting
- Have physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches
How is PTSD diagnosed in a child?
Not every child or teen who goes through a trauma gets PTSD. PTSD is diagnosed only if symptoms keep happening for more than 1 month and are negatively affecting the child’s life and how he or she functions. For those with PTSD, symptoms most often start within 3 months after the traumatic event. But they can also start months or years later.
A child psychiatrist or mental health expert can diagnose PTSD. He or she will do a mental health evaluation.
How is PTSD treated in a child?
Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.
PTSD can be treated. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important. It can ease symptoms and enhance your child’s normal development. It can also improve your child’s quality of life.
Treatment may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. A child learns skills to handle his or her anxiety and to master the situation that led to the PTSD.
- Medicines for depression or anxiety. These may help some children feel calmer.
Recovery from PTSD varies. Some children recover within 6 months. Others have symptoms that last much longer. Recovery depends on the child’s inner strengths, coping skills, and ability to bounce back. It is also affected by the level of family support. Parents play a vital role in treatment.
How can I help prevent PTSD in my child?
These measures may help prevent PTSD in children:
- Teach children that it is OK to say no to someone who tries to touch his or her body or make him or her feel uncomfortable.
- Encourage prevention programs in your community or local school system.
