Assessing posttraumatic stress disorder using the trauma symptom checklist for young children

Elisabeth S. Pollio, L. Ellen Glover-Orr, Jeffrey N. Wherry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

This pilot study assessed the performance of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC) in correctly classifying the presence or absence of PTSD, as determined by the Diagnostic Interview for children and Adolescents-Parent (DICA-P). Participants included 34 children, ages 4 to 12, referred for outpatient treatment. The 11 PTSD-positive participants scored significantly higher than the 23 PTSD-negative participants on scales assessing intrusive symptoms, arousal symptoms, and total posttraumatic stress (PTS). A model including the PTS-Intrusion, PTS-Avoidance, and PTS-Arousal scales, and the sexual concerns, dissociation, and anger/aggression scales correctly classified 100% of the PTSD-negative and 72.7% of the PTSD-positive participants. These findings suggest that the TSCYC may be used as an economical and time-efficient screening device for PTSD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)89-100
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Child Sexual Abuse
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 4 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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