Parents and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a review of their PTSD reactions to child health conditions and parental understanding of PTSD in childhood

Burgess, Aaron (2019) Parents and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a review of their PTSD reactions to child health conditions and parental understanding of PTSD in childhood. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Evidence shows that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can manifest in parents following a child’s medical trauma (e.g. cancer diagnosis or surgical procedure). To understand the prevalence rates and potential risk factors for parents developing PTSD a meta-analysis was undertaken. Around 30% of parents developed PTSD following paediatric medical trauma. These rates were explored with moderator analysis based on PTSD assessment type, parental gender and medical trauma. Risk factors, large in effect, were found for parental comorbid psychological responses and functioning. Results are discussed within the context of high heterogeneity. Exposure to trauma in childhood is common, with relatively high PTSD prevalence rates among children and adolescents. Children rely on adults to recognise PTSD symptoms and trauma events in order to facilitate help-seeking behaviours. Knowledge of PTSD is therefore important for key adults such as parents and teachers. Research was undertaken using an online questionnaire to identify what parents and teachers know about PTSD in children across three domains: trauma events, symptoms and treatments. Attitudes towards PTSD screening in schools were also explored. Generally, parents and teachers were able to accurately identify traumatic events and PTSD symptoms, although their understanding was broad, with many non-events and symptoms not associated with PTSD diagnostic criteria being selected. Many interventions not recommended for children were selected as effective treatments. The majority of participants supported PTSD screening. It is important that both parents and teachers can accurately recognise PTSD in children and respond accordingly. Clinical implications from both studies are discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Users 11011 not found.
Date Deposited:	18 Oct 2019 14:50
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2019 14:50
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/72712
DOI:

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