Trauma and PTSD in Preschool-Aged Children

Abstract

Psychological trauma in early childhood has long been a neglected research area. Over the past two decades, the topic of early childhood trauma has received considerable attention, and advances in its understanding have been made. The aim of the present chapter is to give an overview of the current state of research in the field of trauma in preschool-aged children. After the term trauma is defined, the epidemiology of trauma exposure in young children is outlined. Results show that exposure to violence and hospitalization are the most prevalent potentially traumatic events for children in this population. Next the potential symptoms and disorders experienced by young children after exposure to traumatic events are outlined. Posttraumatic symptoms in young children are diverse and can manifest in non-specific ways. Apart from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), young children may experience an array of emotional and behavioral difficulties. This chapter goes on to outline the current diagnostic classifications according to the DSM-5 and the proposed ICD-11 and presents the prevalence rates of PTSD in pre-school children. The risk factors for posttraumatic stress reactions are discussed and the importance of parental posttraumatic adjustment is highlighted. Subsequently, up-to-date measures assessing PTSD in young children, including a standardized interview and questionnaires are introduced. To conclude, three evidence-based therapy methods to address posttraumatic symptomatology in young children are depicted, namely Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.