PTSD Symptoms and Support for Young People Following Acute Trauma 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in young people following acute trauma exposure: development of a low level intervention to promote understanding of symptoms and support.
IRAS ID
219148
Contact name
Sarah Halligan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
21% of children and young people will develop acute PTSD soon after exposure to a very frightening or traumatic event (e.g., car accident, assault). Not only does this result in high levels of distress and increased treatment seeking in the short term, for around 50% of these initial cases problems will be persistent and need treatment. The symptoms of PTSD include highly emotional memories of the trauma, strong avoidance of reminders of the event, and highly negative thoughts and feelings. As such, PTSD has a significant negative impact on quality of life, and for young people it can result in longer term adverse effects on education, health, and wider adjustment (e.g., substance misuse, contact with the criminal justice system). Although a majority of children and parents express a desire to receive information and support in relation to psychological responses following trauma, such provision is typically not available and PTSD frequently goes unrecognised and untreated in young people.
This study will carry out qualitative interviews with young people aged 7-17 who were admitted to hospital EDs due to suffering a trauma. These interviews will aim to investigate how young people feel about the support received following their trauma, and the severity of their symptoms. From this, educational interventions could be created that would help parents to know the best ways to support their child post-trauma, and also help young people and their families to identify symptoms that may suggest the child is suffering from PTSD and needs further treatment.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0072
Date of REC Opinion
27 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion