Post-traumatic stress symptoms in children and parents following a school-based fatality.

Abstract

In 1991 the roof blew off a Swindon Primary School. One child was killed. Two years later 19 of her classmates were interviewed. The parent who collected the child from school that day was also interviewed. Recalled levels of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) symptoms were assessed in both parent and child in the month following the incident. The children's symptom levels at 2 years were also assessed. Parents and children recalled significant post-traumatic stress reactions at 1 month. The level of symptoms in parents did not correlate with that of their own children.