Peritraumatic reactions and posttraumatic stress symptoms in school-aged children victims of road traffic accident.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the power of self-reported peritraumatic distress and dissociation to predict the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in school-aged children.

Methods: School-aged children aged 8 to 15 years admitted to an emergency department after a road traffic accident were enrolled (n=103). Participants were assessed with the child versions of the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory and the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire within 1 week.