ETIOLOGIC FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDERIN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

This article presents an overview of the literature on potential etiol ogical factors in the development of PTSD in children. An etiological model for PTSD is offered which generates hypotheses for identifying l inks between exposure to traumatic events and consequent symptoms, as well as testing relationships between expo sure variables and other po ssible mediating factors. Three possible kinds of interaction between etiologic and mediating variables, leading to different levels of symp toms, are presented. Findings from 25 recent studies examining etiolog ic factors are considered to form an empirical basis for current knowl edge about PTSD in children. Severity of trauma exposure and parental trauma-related distress have consistently produced positive correlatio ns with PTSD symptoms. Length of time since trauma exposure is consist ently negatively correlated with PTSD severity. Findings regarding rel ationships between PTSD risk, age and gender are inconsistent at this time. Other gaps in our current knowledge and understanding are identi fied, and implications for future clinical and research efforts are di scussed.