IDENTIFICATION OF CHARACTERISTICS AND CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER

There has been growing research and clinical interest in children who meet the criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A rise in family violence, violence within schools, and a variety of other stressors are suspected of leading to the characteristic PTSD symptoms of reexperiencing the trauma, psychological numbing, and increased states of arousal. Despite our increasing awareness of childhood PTSD there is some confusion over the nature and causes of this disorder. This paper examines the characteristics of childhood PTSD and its causes.