Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Post traumatic stress disorder is also called PTSD. Your child may have this condition after having or facing a hurtful event that brings him pain or sorrow. The stressful event may make your child think he or someone close to him will get hurt or die. Your child may continue to feel helpless after the event. These experiences are often repeated or re-lived, affecting his daily activities, school, and relationships.
  
  
• PTSD affects children of all ages. Medicine and counseling are used to treat PTSD. Without treatment, PTSD can lead to teenage and adult emotional problems. Your child may need to go into the hospital if he thinks of hurting himself or others.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. Learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers to decide what care you want for your child.

RISKS:

PTSD can get worse if your child is not treated. Your child's illness could make it hard for him to do well in school or to get along with others. It may also affect the way your child eats and sleeps, which may cause him to feel sick. If your child is not treated, he may hurt himself or others. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your child's medicine or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that your child may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your child's medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done to your child. Make sure all of your questions are answered.

Medicines:

Your child may have the following:

• Anti-anxiety: These medicines help your child feel less nervous.
  
  
• Anti-convulsants: These medicines help control seizures, decrease violent behavior, and control your child's mood swings.
  
  
• Anti-depressants: These medicines are given to decrease or stop the symptoms of depression and other behavior problems.
  
  
• Tranquilizers: These medicines are also called sedatives and may be given to help your child stay calm and relaxed. Tranquilizers may also help your child sleep better at night.

Tests:

Your child may have any of the following:

• Blood tests: Your child may need blood tests to give caregivers information about how his body is working. The blood may be taken from your child's arm, hand, finger, foot, heel, or IV.
  
  
• CT scan: This test is also called a CAT scan. An x-ray and computer are used to take pictures of your child's body. Your child may be given dye, also called contrast, before the test. Tell the caregiver if your child is allergic to dye, iodine, or seafood.
  
  
• Urine tests: A sample of your child's urine is collected and sent to a lab for tests.

Treatment options:

Your child may have any of the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: With a therapist, your child will learn to face his feared object or situation slowly and carefully. This may be done with the therapist or with family members. Your child will also learn to control the mental and physical reactions of fear.
  
  
  • Cognitive restructuring: Caregivers help your child learn which thoughts bring anxiety. These thoughts are then replaced with more pleasant ones.
    
    
  • Exposure or desensitization: Exposure or desensitization therapy helps your child face a feared object, person, or situation. Fantasy (not real) or real-life situations are used with this therapy. The goal of desensitization therapy is to help decrease your child's fear or anxiety.
  
  
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: This is also known as EMDR and is a type of exposure therapy. Caregivers help your child's eyes move back and forth while he re-imagines the trauma.
  
  
• Relaxation therapy: Relaxation therapy teaches your child how to calm his body and mind. The goal is to have your child feel less physical (body) stress and have less emotional (mind) stress.
  
  
• Stress management: Caregivers will teach your child ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, relaxing muscles, music, or biofeedback.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Children (Inpatient Care)