Brief Report: Children's Responses to Trauma- and Nontrauma-related Hospital Admission: A Comparison Study
Author(s)
Murray, Belinda L
Kenardy, Justin A
Spence, Susan H
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2008
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study aims to investigate and compare psychological responses in children and parents 1 month after trauma- and nontrauma-related hospital admission. Methods Two hundred and five children aged 7-16 years (and their parents) were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other psychopathology, and distress 1 month after trauma-related (Trauma Group; n챰1) and nontrauma-related hospital admission (Non-Trauma Group; n챰4). Results Clinically elevated PTSD symptom levels were more prevalent in children admitted for trauma-related (18%) than nontrauma-related reasons (4%). Parents also experienced posttraumatic distress, ...
View more >This study aims to investigate and compare psychological responses in children and parents 1 month after trauma- and nontrauma-related hospital admission. Methods Two hundred and five children aged 7-16 years (and their parents) were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other psychopathology, and distress 1 month after trauma-related (Trauma Group; n챰1) and nontrauma-related hospital admission (Non-Trauma Group; n챰4). Results Clinically elevated PTSD symptom levels were more prevalent in children admitted for trauma-related (18%) than nontrauma-related reasons (4%). Parents also experienced posttraumatic distress, although rates of clinically elevated symptom levels did not differ between the Trauma (11%) and Non-Trauma (8%) groups. Other pathology and distress in children and parents were comparable across groups. Conclusions Children experienced greater posttraumatic distress following trauma-related hospital admission, while parents' experience of their child's hospitalization is equally distressing regardless of the reason for admission.
View less >
View more >This study aims to investigate and compare psychological responses in children and parents 1 month after trauma- and nontrauma-related hospital admission. Methods Two hundred and five children aged 7-16 years (and their parents) were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other psychopathology, and distress 1 month after trauma-related (Trauma Group; n챰1) and nontrauma-related hospital admission (Non-Trauma Group; n챰4). Results Clinically elevated PTSD symptom levels were more prevalent in children admitted for trauma-related (18%) than nontrauma-related reasons (4%). Parents also experienced posttraumatic distress, although rates of clinically elevated symptom levels did not differ between the Trauma (11%) and Non-Trauma (8%) groups. Other pathology and distress in children and parents were comparable across groups. Conclusions Children experienced greater posttraumatic distress following trauma-related hospital admission, while parents' experience of their child's hospitalization is equally distressing regardless of the reason for admission.
View less >
Journal Title
Journal of Pediatric Psychology
Volume
33
Issue
4
Subject
Psychology not elsewhere classified
Psychology