Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that can affect our children with special needs. For the last year, I’ve been guest blogging about the topic at Friendship Circle of Michigan. The most recent post in the series describes the risk factors that make PTSD more likely to occur in children.

PTSD Risk Factors

According to Dr. Linda Gantt, executive director at Intensive Trauma Therapy, Inc. (ITT) (now of Help for Trauma), the following four risk factors increase the likelihood of PTSD developing in children who have experienced a traumatic, scary event, including invasive medical procedures common for many kids with special needs.

1. Unexpected, unpredictable, or emergency situations. Think being a child blindsided by a scary event.
2. The age of the child when trauma occurs. The younger the child, the higher the risk factor
3. Repeated, significant trauma. What does this mean for kids moved from one foster care placement to another or have repeated medical interventions?
4. Partial awakening during medical procedures. Patients who partially awaken can hear and sometimes feel what’s happening to them, but they are unable to move or speak. They experience a total lack of control.

The four risk factors are fleshed out at the Friendship Circle of Michigan post, PTSD in Kids: What Risk Factors Exist? To read the other posts in the series, here are the links:

• Confessions of a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Advocate
• 5 Myths and Misconceptions about Children and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Kids?
• 10 Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children

What Do You Know About PTSD and Kids?

Do you have a child with special needs who deals with PTSD, or do you suspect your child has the condition? How are you and your child coping? Where have you had treatment? What other questions do you have? Leave them in the comment box.

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