Posttraumatic stress responses in children with life-threatening illnesses

Recent studies have demonstrated that children who are exposed to life-threatening medical illnesses are at risk for the development of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Parents of pediatric oncology and organ transplant patients also report clinically significant posttraumatic stress symptoms. Contrary to medical assumptions, the actual prognosis of the illness is not predictive of symptom development but seems to depend on the child's or parents' appraisal of risk. Clinicians are advised to evaluate for PTSD and be sensitive to potential differences in appraisal of risk held by the child, parent, and treatment team.