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post 1
robert gallagher posted Jun 6, 2024 2:12 PM
What are the psychological needs of children/adolescents following exposure to trauma and how do they differ from adults?  (Are there specific differences depending on the age group for children/adolescents?). Here, include a discussion of how coping with trauma is different for children/adolescents relative to adults.  
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur in both children, adolescences, and adults. Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an event that is traumatizing to a child or an adult (APA, 2024) Both children and adults can experience unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. Kolatisis (2017) noted about 16% of children who are exposed to trauma will develop PTSD. Children and Adults who have PTSD experience symptoms like reexperiencing the event(s), avoidance, and hypervigilance (Carll, 2007). Gerasimos (2017) suggests that 16% of children who experience traumatic events will develop PTSD. However, Gerasimos (2017) noted that PTSD symptoms are reduced by 50% within 1-6 months after the traumatizing experience. However, there are differences based on age. Children’s needs following trauma also differ depending on age group and these symptoms include separation anxiety especially in children under age two, sleep disturbance, irritability/anger, and problems in school (Latif, 2015). Adolescents tend to be at risk for self-blame, depressed mood, and anxiety and may engage in risky behaviors like substance abuse (Latif et al., 2015).
Carll (2007) noted in trauma related to medical diagnosis in children can create PTSD, but different factors create trauma in children versus their parents. For parents (Carll, 2007) noted that the announcement of the diagnosis is the leading case of PTSD in parents, while for those children with the diagnosis the intensity of the treatment and the threat to their lives is what creates more PTSD. For kids with medical conditions that lead to PTSD interventions that lead to effective coping mechanisms and resiliency include those children being able to retell the story from their perspective, using CBT, and having a family system approach (Carll, 2007).
For adults, Carll (2007) also noted in these childhood medical diagnosis mothers are more likely to develop PTSD than the fathers when the news is relayed to them. In general, though, Thompson et al. (2018) noted active coping strategies problem solving and cognitive restructuring, wishful thinking, and social withdrawal). However, the last two seems to negatively impact the ability to overcome PTSD and the first two for adults seems to increase being over to be resilient when it comes to PTSD.
Like adults, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works well for children who develop PTSD from being traumatized (Kolatisis, 2017). For adults, psychoeducation, relaxation techniques, and gradual exposure seems to help reduce PTSD in adults (Dorsey, Briggs, and Woods, 2011). However, unlike adults having the non-offending parent involved is part of the process to reduce PTSD in children and adolescences. This includes individual therapy for the child and therapy with the non-offending parent (Kolatisis, 2017).
2). What primary risk factors increase prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children/adolescents following trauma?  
There are many risk factors for the development of PTSD in children who experienced trauma. Kolatisis (2017) and Dorsey, Briggs, and Woods (2011) noted children and adolescences that have acute stress reactions, depression, anxiety, being female, the severity of the trauma, the duration of the trauma, history of loss, parental reaction, and a lack of support systems are more at risk of developing PTSD. The consequences of this trauma include depression, anxiety, addiction, and health problems (Kolatisis, 2017). An example of this would be a child who is physically abused for years in their home and the non-offending parent doesn’t protect the child. However, avoidance is a big risk factors for continuation of PTSD for children that increases other psychiatric disorders (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011).
One of the ways to overcome avoidance is to address often times shame children and adolescences feel, creating trust with children and adolescences, and youth feeling there are believed when expressing what happened to them (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). An example of this would be a child who is sexually abused but it told it is their fault or they feel they could have stopped it but didn’t. When it comes to medical issues Carl (2007) noted that children who have major medical issues like a diagnosis of cancer will have higher rates of PTSD based on the treatment intensity and the degree that the diagnosis is life-threatening. A common psychiatric disorder in children and adolescence in children with PTSD include substance abuse and dissociative symptoms including depersonalization and derealization ( Torrico & Mikes, 2024). Kolatisis (2017) noted symptoms in children with PTSD included increase depression, anxiety, addictions, and health problems.
3). How do treatments for trauma-related psychiatric disorders (including PTSD) differ between children/adolescents and adults?  
Based on the symptoms children/adolescence experience when they have PTSD treatment options must address the physical, psychological, and social factors to reduce PTSD (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). Kolatisis (2017) noted that PTSD will be reduced about 50% within the one to six months after the event for most children or adolescence without any treatment. This speaks to a child’s resiliency (Kolatisis, 2017). However, almost half of all children will continue to have PTSD symptoms and need an intervention.  
There are two main types of effective therapeutic techniques for children and adolescents including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (for adults and children) and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Trauma in Schools (primarily for children/adolescences) (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). CBT that focuses youth on individual therapy that exposes youth to their trauma-related cues and memories, creating coping skills, managing a child’s anxiety, uses medication like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and parent educational training has been shown to be effective in reducing PTSD in children. Trauma-Informed CBT approaches is effective for reducing PTSD within 12-20 1-hour sessions for children from 3-18 years old (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). CBT uses the PRACTICE technique including psychoeducation, parenting skills, affective modulation skills, cognitive coping skills, trauma narrative/processing, in live exposure, child-parent sessions together, and enhancing a child’s perception of being safe (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trauma in Schools (CBT-TS) is another technique specially for youth. CBT-TS tend to break up the 10 sessions into 1 hour group sessions, 1-3 individual sessions, 2-4 joint parent-child sessions, and 1 teacher education session (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). Two other therapeutic techniques I found interesting, included Trauma and Grief Component Therapy (TGBT) as it focused on understanding a child’s grief as it comes to a loss (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). The other CBT technique I found interesting was Combined Parent Child Cognitive-Behavioral Approach (CPC-CBT) for children who are at risk of child abuse (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). I found this CBT approach interesting as it is a good technique that improves parenting skills among abusive parenting, reduces the rates of excessive physical disciplining toward their children, and reduced fear and anxiety in youth (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). Other CBT techniques specifically for teenagers include Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) and Trauma-Focused Coping (Dorsey, Briggs, & Woods, 2011). One interesting difference in therapeutic techniques for adults with PTSD and youth with PTSD was the use of drugs. McPhillips (2024) on CNN this past week reported on how there was a push for adults to be given MDMA (ecstasy) in order to reduce PTSD (McPhillips, 2024). However, I doubt giving children MDMA would be a good idea.
Bibliography
American Psychological Association. (2024). Trauma. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma
Dorsey, S., Briggs, E., & Woods, B. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Child Adolescences Psychiatry Clinical North America; 20(2):255-69. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2011.01.006.
Carll, E.Carll (2007). Trauma Psychology : Issues in Violence, Disaster, Health, and Illness [2 Volumes]. Praeger.
Kolaitis, G. (2017). Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Psychotraumatalogy, 8(4) DOI: 10/10180/20008198.2017.1351198
McPhillips, D. (2024). FDA advisers vote against first MDMA therapy to treat PTSD. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/health/mdma-ptsd-fda-advisers/index.html#:~:text=MDMA%20is%20in%20a%20class,communion%2C%20relatedness%20and%20emotional%20openness.&text=A%20federal%20advisory%20committee%20on,for%20post%2Dtraumatic%20stress%20disorder.
Latif, F. F., Yeatermeyer, J., Horne, Z., & Beriwal, S. (2015). Psychological impact of nuclear disasters on children and adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 24(4), 811-822.
McPhillips, D. (2024). FDA advisers vote against first MDMA therapy to treat PTSD. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/health/mdma-ptsd-fda-advisers/index.html#:~:text=MDMA%20is%20in%20a%20class,communion%2C%20relatedness%20and%20emotional%20openness.&text=A%20federal%20advisory%20committee%20on,for%20post%2Dtraumatic%20stress%20disorder.
Thompson, N., Fiorillo, D., Rothbaum,B., Ressler, K., & Michopoulos V. (2018) Coping strategies as mediators in relation to resilience and posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Affect Disorders; 225:153-159. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.049.
Torrico, T. & Mikes, B. (2024). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559140/
Post 2
Sean Suggs posted Jun 11, 2024 4:59 PM
What are the psychological needs of children/adolescents following exposure to trauma and how do they differ from adults? (Are there specific differences depending on the age group for children/adolescents?). Here, include a discussion of how coping with trauma is different for children/adolescents relative to adults.
Trauma can deeply impact people of any age, but the needs and reactions of children and adolescents are distinct because of their developmental stages. Recognizing these differences is essential for offering suitable support. Many young people experience various types of trauma, such as abuse or natural disasters (Kolaitis, 2017). For children who have faced trauma, expressing and validating their emotions is vital. Since children often don’t have the words to articulate complex feelings, they find it helpful to use play therapy, art, and other non-verbal ways to express themselves.
What primary risk factors increase the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children/adolescents following trauma?  
Trauma in childhood and adolescence can have profound and long-lasting effects on mental health. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in young individuals following traumatic experiences is influenced by various risk factors that interact in complex ways. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for early intervention and effective support.  According to recent studies; however, even subclinical symptoms of PTSD place children at risk for other psychiatric disorders (Dorsey et al., 2011).
Children and adolescents who already have mental health issues are at an increased risk of developing additional psychiatric disorders following trauma. Pre-existing conditions can exacerbate the impact of trauma, making it more challenging to cope with new stressors. Addressing these risk factors through comprehensive support systems, early intervention, and targeted therapies can help mitigate the adverse effects of trauma and promote better mental health outcomes for affected children and adolescents. Recognizing and addressing these risk factors is essential for parents, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers to foster a supportive environment that nurtures resilience and recovery.
References,
Dorsey, S., Briggs, E. C., & Woods, B. A. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 20(2), 255–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.01.006
Kolaitis, G. (2017). Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8(sup4). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2017.1351198
post 3
Brianna Boyd posted Jun 11, 2024 7:00 PM
Hello class and Dr. King,
1). Children differ in psychological needs after experiencing a traumatic event; the needs then vary depending on the age of the child(ren). Younger children may require more physical care than older children, who may focus more on emotional and mental support; the differences vary based on brain development and ability to process the event and its significance. Younger children often cope through art, playing, or reenacting the event. Older children are more able to ask for help or verbally express themselves. However, older children may often analyze the event in-depth, experience high amounts of guilt or shame, and begin to take on the feeling of needing punishment.
Based on the variety of ways children cope based on development level, it is clear how they differ from adults. In comparison, adults can seek help when they feel the need, self-soothe, or have an arsenal of coping mechanisms they may already use from general life experience. Children have to learn what coping is and how to use it.
2). Due to the level of support and care children require, the risk factors for them developing a psychiatric disorder are a little higher. A huge factor can be the amount of love and support in a safe environment, previous exposures to trauma, the loss of someone close to them, and being brought up in an unstable environment. Children do best in secure, familiar, and loving environments.
3). Children naturally tend to be more resilient compared to adults. The best interventions for treating children include family therapy sessions, in which adults learn how to support the child experiencing symptoms, play, art, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Pharmacological treatment for children is not a first-choice intervention. Similarly to adults, other coping mechanisms and interventions may be more effective in long-term symptom management.
Resources: 
Dorsey, S., Briggs, E. C., & Woods, B. A. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 20(2), 255–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.01.006
Elizabeth K. Carll Ph.D. (2007). Trauma Psychology : Issues in Violence, Disaster, Health, and Illness [2 Volumes]. Praeger.