Post-traumatic cognitive processes in secondary school pupils
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cognitive processes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression following trauma: a cross-sectional study of secondary school pupils
IRAS ID
188569
Contact name
Alice Alberici
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 28 days
Research summary
Research has found that many young people experience a ‘trauma’ (an upsetting/frightening event) and that some develop PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), continuing to feel frightened when not in danger. Currently, we know little about the prevalence rates of PTSD and trauma in UK youths. We know that depression occurs frequently with PTSD but not why. Importantly, we know where they co-occur we see more severe symptoms, disability and suicide and treatment doesn’t work as well. If we can increase our understanding of what people think and feel after trauma we might be able to see which types of thinking and feelings are linked to PTSD and depression and improve treatment.
We also know that people with PTSD often use ‘safety behaviours’ (a coping strategy like sleeping with the light on) to avoid something feared. Dropping these strategies is important for treatment. Recently, researchers created a Child Safety Behaviour Scale (CSBS) to assess their use. It would be useful to test the properties of this measure to ensure it is reliable as no valid measure is currently available. This scale could identify important unhelpful strategies used by young people, providing a focus for treatment.
We know that helping people early on in their difficulties leads to better recovery and less suicide which is why we are doing our study with pupils (aged 11-17). We will use questionnaires to ask whether they have experienced anything frightening (e.g. motor accident or violence) and obtain rates of PTSD and trauma. We will also ask what they have been feeling and the types of thinking they have used to look at how these relate to PTSD and depression symptoms. We will also use the CSBS to look at whether pupils have used safety behaviours in response to frightening events and how these relate to PTSD.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0009
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion