The Prevalence of PTSD Diagnoses and Symptomatology in Young Burned Children

Abstract

Although burns are the third leading cause of accidental deaths and the eighth leading cause of non-fatal injuries to children ages 1–4 there has been very little research on the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychosocial symptoms in young children following burn injuries. Previous studies have shown that if left untreated, posttraumatic stress may persist into adulthood and may be refractory to treatment. The current study is the first to examine posttraumatic stress in young children shortly after a burn injury. The aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence of PTSD diagnoses and symptoms one month after a burn injury in 12–48 month-old acutely burned children. Forty-one parents were interviewed one-month after their child was discharged from the hospital. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms were measured utilizing the DICA (DSM-IV) module and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Semi-Structured Interview and Observational Record for Infants and Young Children (PTSDSSI).