Assessing post-traumatic stress disorder in South African adolescents : using the child and adolescent trauma survey (CATS) as a screening tool
Date
2005-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Several studies have demonstrated that South African children and adolescents are
exposed to high levels of violent trauma with a significant proportion developing PTSD, however,
limited resources make it difficult to accurately identify traumatized children.
Methods: A clinical interview (K-SADS-PL, selected modules) and self-report scale (CATS) were
compared to determine if these different methods of assessment elicit similar information with
regards to trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescents. Youth (n =
58) from 2 schools in Cape Town, South Africa participated.
Results: 91% of youth reported having been exposed to a traumatic event on self-report (CATS)
and 38% reported symptoms severe enough to be classified as PTSD. On interview (K-SADS-PL),
86% reported exposure to a traumatic event and 19% were found to have PTSD. While there were
significant differences in the rates of trauma exposure and PTSD on the K-SADS and CATS, a cutoff
value of 15 on the CATS maximized both the number of true positives and true negatives with
PTSD. The CATS also differentiated well between adolescents meeting DSM-IV PTSD symptom
criteria from adolescents not meeting criteria.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that trauma exposure and PTSD are prevalent in South African
youth and if appropriate cut-offs are used, self-report scales may be useful screening tools for
PTSD.
Description
CITATION: Suliman, S., Kaminer, D., Seedat, S. & Stein, D.J. 2005. Assessing post-traumatic stress disorder in South African adolescents: using the child and adolescent trauma survey (CATS) as a screening tool. Annals of General Psychiatry, 4:2, doi:10.1186/1744-859X-4-2.
The original publication is available at http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/4/1/2
The original publication is available at http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/4/1/2
Keywords
Post-traumatic stress disorder in children -- South Africa, Psychic trauma in children -- South Africa, Adolescents -- South Africa -- Psychology
Citation
Suliman, S., Kaminer, D., Seedat, S. & Stein, D.J. 2005. Assessing post-traumatic stress disorder in South African adolescents: using the child and adolescent trauma survey (CATS) as a screening tool. Annals of General Psychiatry, 4:2, doi:10.1186/1744-859X-4-2.