A traumatic event, such as a car accident or a natural disaster, can leave a lasting effect on a young child’s mind without being noticed by their parents. Authors of a new study found that children can experience nightmares, develop fears and feel unsafe as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Kids with PTSD often take cues from the stress of their parents, but the parents themselves are not likely to recognize the disorder in their children. Furthermore, children with PTSD were more likely to have parents also suffering from the disorder. These findings suggest that parental reports may not be a reliable diagnostic tool for post-traumatic stress in young children – especially if the parent shows similar symptoms.
Authors:
Richard Meiser-Stedman, Patrick Smith, William Yule, Edward Glucksman, and Tim Dalgleish
Corresponding author:
Richard Meiser-Stedman, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
Original paper published in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry on November 8, 2016.
Associated press release from the University of East Anglia.
