PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, has become the focus of more research in recent years. The disorder was developed after soldiers returned from the Vietnam War suffering from psychological difficulties related to the trauma they experienced. A growing area of focus is PTSD in children and adolescents, in particular those who develop PTSD as a result of trauma faced as an infant.
Diagnosing PTSD in Children
The first part of diagnosing PTSD in a child involves looking at whether the child has experienced a traumatic event in which he believed he or someone close to him was in serious threat of harm or death. In addition to suffering a traumatic event, the child must experience hypervigilance along with flashbacks to the traumatic event and avoidance of things that are associated with the trauma.
Attachment-Related Trauma
Perhaps the biggest source of trauma in infants comes as a result of no attachment bond forming with their primary caregiver. Attachment is the relationship formed by an infant and primary caregiver, often the mother, upon which all subsequent relationships in the infant's life are based. When an infant is in need and cries for her caregiver, her instincts are meant to elicit a response that results in her needs being met. A lack of attachment and trust results from someone not being there, causing a traumatic experience for the infant.
Other Forms of Trauma Leading to PTSD
In addition to having attachment-related trauma, children and adolescents who have witnessed threats to their primary caregiver are at higher risk for developing PTSD. Scientists have focused more of their research on younger children but have found recently that the risk applies to all age groups. With domestic violence incidents taking place in front of children, the chance of them developing PTSD is extremely high as they grow older.
Treatment of PTSD in Children
Helping children cope with the effects of PTSD centers on interventions that rebuild the attachment bond that was lacking when the child was an infant. This involves conjoint family psychotherapy in which the trust level is built back up between the child and caregiver and gives children a chance to explore their feelings related to the trauma experienced. In addition, psychotherapy can help the caregiver examine her own historical trauma and how that affects her as an adult.
References
- American Journal of Psychiatry; Factors Affecting the Diagnosis and Prediction of PTSD Symptomatology in Children and Adolescents; Michael S. Scheeringa, M.D., et. al; April 2006
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Trauma, PTSD, and Attachment in Infants and Young Children; Erin R. Barnett, Ph.D. & Jessica Hamblen, Ph.D.; December 2009
