@article{ref1,
title="Investigation of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children After Animal-Induced Injury in China",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="2010",
author="Ji, Li and Xiaowei, Zhang and Chuanlin, Wang and Wei, Liu",
volume="126",
number="2",
pages="e320-4",
abstract="Objective: Dogs are important members of many families in many countries. However, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children after animal attacks has always been underestimated, and a more-detailed study of PTSD in children after animal attacks is needed. Methods: The charts and follow-up data for 358 children after animal-induced injuries were reviewed. Family Apgar Scale assessment and PTSD screening were performed at emergency department admission. On week 1 after the emergency department admission, the patient underwent evaluation for acute stress disorder (ASD) diagnosis, by using the Child Acute Stress Questionnaire. PTSD screening and interim history-taking were performed 3 months after the emergency department admission, by telephone or in face-to-face interviews, by using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents. P values of <.05 were considered significant. Results: A total of 19 patients developed PTSD, including 10 patients with severe injuries, 8 patients with moderate injuries, and 1 patient with a mild injury (chi(2) = 48.104; P = .000). No significant differences in PTSD occurrence according to gender and age were observed. Family Apgar Scale scores were not significantly related to PTSD (P = .781). ASD and PTSD symptom severity scores were significantly associated (r = 0.51; P < .005). Conclusions: Child victims of severe animal attacks should be considered at risk for the development of PTSD, family support was not correlated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in school-aged children after animal attacks, and ASD seems to be an early predictive indicator of PTSD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="10.1542/peds.2009-3530",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3530"
}