Recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder in children following road traffic accidents: The role of talking and feeling understood

Forty children were assessed 6 weeks and 8 months after involvement in a ro ad traffic accident (RTA). Ten of the 21 children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 6 weeks continued to fulfil diagnostic criteria a t 8 months. There was no evidence of delayed onset of PTSD in children who had not developed this condition at 6 weeks. Talking about the accident and feeling understood were associated with recovery. Providing children with opportunities to talk about their accident may be helpful in preventing or reducing psychological distress. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.