Child Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Identification in Community Mental Health Clinics.

We examined the identification of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in help-seeking urban children (=157) presenting for care in community mental health clinics. Children and their parents completed a standard intake assessment conducted by a community clinician followed by a structured trauma-focused assessment conducted by a study clinician. Clinicians provided ratings of child functional impairment, parents reported on internalizing/externalizing problems, and children provided self-reports of PTSD symptom severity.

A randomized controlled trial of sertraline to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder in burned children.

Background: This study evaluated the potential benefits of a centrally acting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline, versus placebo for prevention of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in burned children. This is the first controlled investigation based on our review of the early use of a medication to prevent PTSD in children.

Methods: Twenty-six children aged 6-20 were assessed in a 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled design.

Effects of clinician-assisted emotional disclosure for sexual assault survivors: a pilot study.

This study assessed the effects of clinician-assisted emotional disclosure (CAED), an integration of emotion focused therapy (Greenberg, Rice, & Elliott, 1993) and emotional disclosure, in ameliorating distress experienced by survivors of sexual assault. A total of 670 female university students were screened for both histories of sexual victimization and clinically significant levels of global psychological distress. Twenty-eight females entered the treatment phase of the study and were randomly assigned to participate in either treatment or no-treatment control conditions.

Relationship between type of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder among urban children and adolescents.

This study examines the association between trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 157 help-seeking children (aged 8-17). Structured clinical interviews are carried out, and linear and logistic regression analyses are conducted to examine the relationship between PTSD and type of trauma exposure controlling for age, gender, and ethnicity. Confrontation with traumatic news, witnessing domestic violence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse are each significantly associated with PTSD.

The relationship between PTSD arousal symptoms and depression among mothers exposed to the World Trade Center attacks.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with greater risk of developing comorbid depression. However, little is known about the relationship between specific PTSD symptom clusters and comorbid depression. Approximately 4 years after the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks, we examined the association between PTSD symptom clusters and depression severity among 64 mothers directly exposed to the WTC attacks.

Dating violence among college men and women: evaluation of a theoretical model.

This study empirically evaluates the Riggs and O'Leary (1989) model of dating violence. A sample of 200 college students completes assessments concerning the occurrence of violence in their dating relationships. The incidence of self-reported partner violence is 25% for women and 10% for men.

A prospective analysis of sexual assault perpetration: risk factors related to perpetrator characteristics.

This study prospectively evaluated perpetrator risk factors for sexual assault perpetration, including peer influences, beliefs and attitudes about sexuality, alcohol use, and token resistance. Perpetration of sexual assault was evaluated at three time periods: pretest, 3-month follow-up, and 7-month follow-up. Retrospective and prospective analyses yielded differential predictors of sexually aggressive behavior.