Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among maltreated youth but it remains unclear as to whether removal from home
is as traumatizing as the maltreatment. This study examined 250 maltreated adolescents aged 11–17 years who were grouped on
the basis of whether they (1) endorsed removal from home as their primary traumatic event, (2) endorsed removal from home
as a secondary traumatic event, but not their primary traumatic event, or (3) did not endorse removal from home as traumatic.
PTSD diagnoses as well as symptoms of PTSD, dissociation, depression, posttraumatic cognitions, and anger expression were
measured. Adolescents who endorsed removal from home as their primary traumatic event reported significantly lower levels
of PTSD and related symptoms than adolescents in the other groups. The findings are discussed within the context of transactions
surrounding removal from home and support previous work that PTSD is a critical concern regarding many maltreated youth.
is as traumatizing as the maltreatment. This study examined 250 maltreated adolescents aged 11–17 years who were grouped on
the basis of whether they (1) endorsed removal from home as their primary traumatic event, (2) endorsed removal from home
as a secondary traumatic event, but not their primary traumatic event, or (3) did not endorse removal from home as traumatic.
PTSD diagnoses as well as symptoms of PTSD, dissociation, depression, posttraumatic cognitions, and anger expression were
measured. Adolescents who endorsed removal from home as their primary traumatic event reported significantly lower levels
of PTSD and related symptoms than adolescents in the other groups. The findings are discussed within the context of transactions
surrounding removal from home and support previous work that PTSD is a critical concern regarding many maltreated youth.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-012-9467-8
- Authors
- Adrianna Wechsler-Zimring, Clinical Psychology Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Christopher A. Kearney, Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5030, USA
- Harpreet Kaur, Clinical Psychology Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Timothy Day, Clinical Psychology Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482