Screening for risk of posttraumatic stress disorder in children and parents after an accident.

Yearly many children are involved in accidents and medically treated in the shockroom of the emergency department. As a result, 70% of the children develop posttraumatic stress symptoms. In the majority of the children the symptoms resolve themselves spontaneously. However, 10 to 15% of the children develop chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating psychiatric disorder, causing serious problems for the children and their family. The problems lead to a decrease in school performance and the development of comorbid disorders. Moreover, PTSD delays the physical recovery. If we could identify the children and parents at risk, we would be able to prevent the development of chronic PTSD. Because of the influence of parental stress on children, it is also important to monitor parental stress reactions. In the USA the STEPP (Screening Tool for Early Predictors of PTSD) appeared to be an efficient screening tool.

The purpose of this study is to validate the STEPP-tool for the Netherlands, to develop a short and userfriendly screening tool to identify children and parents at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder.

150 children from 8 to 18 years will be included within one week after an accident. Three months after the accident PTSD is assessed with a semistructured interview (ADIS-C) and screened with a self-report questionnaire (CRIES). Parents are screened on posttraumatic symptoms with SVL. Comorbid anxiety, behaviour and mood disorders are assessed with ADIS-C, RCADS and SDQ, and Quality of Life with Kidscreen 52. The study is conducted in AMC and VUmc in Amsterdam.

Develop a screening tool to identify children at risk of posttraumatic stress disorder after an accident.

Three months after the accident PTSD is assessed with a semistructured interview (ADIS-C) and screened with a self-report questionnaire (CRIES). Parents are screened on posttraumatic symptoms with SVL. Comorbid anxiety, behaviour and mood disorders are assessed with ADIS-C, RCADS and SDQ, and Quality of Life with Kidscreen 52.

Screening instrument STEPP.