SYMPTOM EXPRESSION AND TRAUMA VARIABLES IN CHILDREN UNDER 48 MONTHS OF AGE

The present study compared the severity of posttraumatic symptomatolog y and the differential expression of the PTSD symptom clusters with si x child and trauma-related variables. The independent variables were g ender, age at time of trauma, acute versus repeated traumas, injured v ersus not injured, witnessed versus experienced, and threat to caregiv er versus no threat to caregiver. The dependent variables were presenc e of the diagnosis of PTSD, the overall symptom severity score, and fo ur PTSD diagnostic cluster scores. Forty-one traumatized subjects unde r 48 months of age were studied. The diagnosis of PTSD was present mor e often when traumas involved threats to the caregivers. When traumas involved threats to the caregivers, the subjects expressed fewer numbi ng symptoms, more hyperarousal symptoms, and more new fears and aggres sion. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed, i ncluding the need for increased awareness that very young children can be affected severely when involved in situations that threaten their caregivers.