POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING IN ADOLESCENT CANCER

Twenty three adolescents with a history of cancel; 27 physically abuse d adolescents, and 23 healthy, nonabused adolescents were administered structured posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interviews and self-r eport questionnaires regarding family functioning. Thirty five percent of adolescent cancer subjects met criteria for lifetime PTSD as compa red to only 7% of the abused adolescents: 17% of the cancer subjects a nd 11% of the abuse subjects met criteria for current PTSD. Adolescent s with cancer viewed their mothers and fathers as significantly more c aring and more protective than the comparison and abused adolescents. Cancer subjects who met criteria for lifetime PTSD saw their families as significantly more chaotic than those who did not have PTSD. Eighty three percent of cancer subjects who had lifetime PTSD also had mothe rs who had PTSD.