D. Pelcovitz et al., POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER IN PHYSICALLY ABUSED ADOLESCENTS, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(3), 1994, pp. 305-312
Objective: In an investigation of the prevalence of post-traumatic str
ess disorder (PTSD), other Axis I psychiatric disorders, and social an
d behavioral difficulties, 27 physically abused adolescents were compa
red with 27 nonabused controls who were recruited through random-digit
dialing procedures. Method: The Structured Clinical Interview for Dia
gnosis (PTSD module), Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schi
zophrenia, and Youth Self-Report were administered to all subjects; mo
thers were interviewed regarding their adolescent's behavior using the
Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-
Age Children and Child Behavior Checklist. Results: The three physical
ly abused adolescents who received a diagnosis of PTSD on the PTSD mod
ule of the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis reported their
PTSD symptoms were in reaction to extrafamilial sexual assaults and no
t to physical abuse. In contrast, the abused adolescents showed signif
icantly higher prevalence rates of depression, conduct disorder, inter
nalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and social deficits. Con
clusions: Findings suggest that physically abused adolescents may be m
ore at risk for behavioral and social difficulties than for PTSD.