Abstract

HINOJOS-GALLARDO, Luis Carlos et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder in a pediatric population treated at the Children's Hospital of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2011, vol.68, n.4, pp.290-295. ISSN 1665-1146.

Background. Due to the increase in various types of violent actions in our community, there is a preoccupation regarding the psychological consequences for children who survive a traumatic event. The aim of this study was to identify factors related to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in pediatric patients treated in the Department of Child Psychology at Children's Hospital of the State of Chihuahua (HIECH). Methods. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study examining the clinical files during a 3-month period of patients treated in the Department of Child Psychology of HIECH. The study was conducted with frequencies and bivariate analysis. Results. We analyzed a total of 125 clinical files of which 41.6% corresponded to males and 58.4% to females. In 52 patients the triggering event was a violent action, whereas in 73 patients the event was due to accidents. The age of the patients was between 5 and 15 years and the highest prevalence was found in patients between 5 and 7 years of age. No statistically significant association was found in regard to parental education, religion, or family type (integrated or disintegrated) with the development of PTSD. Conclusions. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the pediatric population has increased considerably in recent years. Proper identification of patients with data suggestive of the diagnosis is important in order to implement therapies that avoid the psychological consequences.

Keywords : posttraumatic stress; pediatric population.

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